Weekend Getaway

Debbie & I decided Thursday night to take a road trip to Utah for a few reasons but the main one for me was Shannon Hale's book signing. On her blog Shannon wrote,

Next Saturday, June 13, at 5 pm, is the release party for the actor and the
housewife! The King's English, of course, is hosting here in Salt Lake City,
Utah. There will be karaoke and pie. And books. What more could anyone
desire?

And in another post wrote...

I'll give a book to the awesome person who dons the most fabulous apron.

Some might wonder why I would want to drive to Utah for a book signing, well really what more could I desire than pie, aprons, & karaoke? I really don't ask for more out of life? Awhile back I saw pictures from Shannon's Austenland release party on her blog and I have always been sad that I missed it. Doesn't it just look like so much fun? I didn't want to have the same regret.

If you don't know Debbie let me just tell you she is amazingly talented with almost anything crafty. I knew she was going to want to make her own apron and that she would need it to be the best. The only thing she asked for help was an opinion so I went over and gave my opinion on fabric/color choices. When I picked Debbie up Friday morning I saw her apron and words can not describe the cuteness of her apron and the geniusness of Debbie.

I have always loved a good road trip and it was fun to have so much uninterrupted time to laugh, talk & sing with Debbie.

Highlights from the road...

While pulling out of a gas station in Panguitch Utah I started to freak out because this truck was driving and a dog was on the roof. We actually ended up following the truck and the dog got down on the tool box but would get back up on the roof. Nearly causing me to have a heart attack. Mimi maybe you should not look, but I did see the dog made it safely home.

Then in a few miles a cop was slowing traffic down as there was a cattle drive going on.

This guy wanted to take the easy road.
The signing was on Saturday at King's English book store.

Highlights from the signing...

Mr. Darcy wearing an apron

See how cute her apron is she made it the night before with out a pattern. Isn't she the cutest.

Shannon was a riot the whole time but I really loved the story about how some Nuns either emailed or wrote her I want to say emailed something along the lines of them being the wives of their lord but also having crushes on Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth & that they loved her book Austenland. They also gave The Actor and The Housewife a thumbs up! The funny thing is I saw the Nuns at Project Book Babe, Mimi even checked them in. Shannon had gotten them tickets. See my friends from Hobo Skate also got to meet them. (I stole this picture from facebook)

Debbie's apron was one of the finalist and she won a DVD of Nacho Libre signed by the the writers/director.

Then of course we had pie and sang karaoke after Shannon & her husband Dean sang Islands in the Stream. If you have read the book you will understand why. There was a pretty long line so we stayed and sang our heart or lungs out. We were having a lot of fun with the girl in charge who was Shannon's sister and just as nice as could be. Debbie & I had a lot of fun singing I will Survive with her.

After our lungs gave out we got in line to get our books signed. Where I met some lovely ladies who are also twilight fans and we tried to convince them to finish reading The Mortal Instruments series. They also know my good friend Jenny Whipple. It was fun to chat with them.

Then it was our turn to see Shannon, She got up from the table and came and gave us hugs calling us her Arizona friends. We talked about Project Book Babe, I asked her about why she picked the name Bellamy. It was so nice to see her again, I am glad we made the trip. Later that night when we got back I opened my books to see what she wrote...

How cute is she? I just love that Shannon Hale!!!


Highlights of the ride home...

We got stuck in traffic out of Flagstaff and while crawling up a hill Debbie said if she was a vampire she would just pick up the car and run us over the hills.

Speaking of Italy and things we stole...We were driving and Muse came on I can't remember which song but as we were saying how we are excited for New Moon a Yellow 911 Porsche went zooming by.

Edit...you can see picture of Debbie & I singing with Shannon's sister on her blog here.

June 9th

It was around 7:30ish Monday night when I was wishing it could be Tuesday (June 9th) so I could read Shannon Hale's new book The Actor and the Housewife. Then the thought came to me...it probably got shelved early. I went down to Barnes & Noble and there it was sitting on the shelf, it was a beautiful sight to behold. I left the store with a spring in my step, and got about halfway through the book that night.

The next morning while checking my google reader (which is one of my favorite things, you can google it) I saw that it was Matt Bellamy's 31st birthday, the lead singer/guitar/piano player for the band Muse. That is when I noticed the date June 9th...and thought...hmmm why is that date important? It took me a moment to remember oh yeah that is the day I came home from my mission back in 2004 FIVE years ago.

As I said I have been sick and that morning while at work I had a coughing attack while on the phone I might add. I some how got off the phone with out throwing up and started breathing again. Needless to say I ended up going home around noon. I really did try and sleep but who can sleep when there are books to read.

In the book the main character Becky gets an email from someone who mentions getting Nielsen's Frozen Custard. Becky then mentions how good Nielsen's Frozen Custard really is. Pre-mission my friends and I spent a lot of good times at Nielsen's Frozen Custard (the one in Mesa). While on my mission my companion and I were at dinner and the father had made us sundae's for dessert. That got us talking about ice cream I mentioned how much I missed Nielsen's Frozen Custard. The mother than told me there was one just down the street and that they started in Utah her roommate from college was married to the owner of the chain. It ended up that just down the street was actually just outside our mission boundaries so another day the mother and daughter went and got us Nielsen's, how sweet were they.

Later in the book there is a boy named Bellamy who is associated with an Italian rock star. This character is about as minor as they come so no worries no spoilers in mentioning him. But come on Bellamy as in Matt Bellamy who is not Italian but he does live there. I have a feeling Stephenie Meyer had something to do with it. Does anyone else think it is crazy that these three very separate things that all fell on a single date all kind of merged into one. Well I thought it was funny and awesome and to celebrate I got some Nielsen's frozen custard and watched a couple songs off my Haarp (Muse) DVD.

Last night I kept thinking I should tell Shannon about the book magic and how much I loved the book so I wrote this really long email explaining what I explained to you and wrote my feeling on the book. I almost did not send it I mean like she has time to read my email and she will probably think I am crazy anyway. But I had spent so much time writing it I did not want it to be wasted so I sent it with out another thought. I was not expecting a response and definitely not a fast one. So can you imagine my surprise when I opened my email this morning to see an email from her. I just kind of stared at it. This is her email in it's entirety...

Ha! Given the whole coincidence/serendipity theme in the book, this is especially fun. I usually don't see emails for some time, but glad I happened to read this today. I needed your happy thoughts. You're a doll.
sh.

The point I would like to make with this post is, I know that God knows us and is very involved in our lives and makes small unimportant things happen just so we know he is there. Some people call it coincidence, serendipity, kismet or fate. I am not sure why we are scared to give credit where credit is due, I guess it is because we are scared people will think we are crazy. I am thankful for Shannon's book and her courage to acknowledge Gods hand even in fiction.

Free Book Please

You may remember me talking about the book Hunger Games and how the book blew my mind. Well the sequel Catching Fire is coming out in September. But I just found that there is an ARC give away for it. So here I am plugging away for my chance to win an ARC of Catching Fire.

http://reviewerx.blogspot.com/2009/05/contest-catching-fire.html

To my reading peeps if you link and win just remember who shared City of Glass.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

I got the following email from my friend Melissa...
If you saw ME in a police car what would you think I got arrested for? Reply to me, alone, then fwd this on and see how many crimes you get accused of.
I was getting ready to forward the email but was thinking my friends are funny and they perform better with an audience so fire away.

So in other words please leave it as a comment, and feel free to add it to your blog as well.

Going Hollywood

Monday was the Premier for Wolverine. I went over to Debbie's to get ready and to help her with her hair. It took me a few tries but I am happy with the turn out. Here we are driving to the premier.
Once we got to the theater we met up with our brothers Eric and Ryan then got our wrist bands.

Here we are dressed up for the show. We didn't get there early enough to get close to the stage and see the stars arrive. But we were able to get close to the red carpet and watch as they made their way down to the theater. While waiting for the stars Debbie started taking some photos at first glance it looks like Debbie has got some crazy hair. We kept laughing about it, we took another photo this time it is Mimi's hair.

Britt & Amber

There were two short ladies in front of us so basically it was like there was no one there at all. But we could not see down the red carpet and everyone wanted to know who was coming so I jumped up on a foot high ash try and announced to everyone who was making their way down the carpet, like an announcer on a sports show, giving a play by play.

Our local celebrity Alice Cooper

Ryan Reynolds was the first star to make it down the red carpet. See how short the two blonds in front of us are. Notice Mimi's hand holding her shirt & marker in the top right corner.

These picture are from mine & Debbie's camera so that is why there are so many.

Mimi pointed out how it looks like the woman in the picture is crying, I think she is just sad to watch him walk on by.

The Director Gavin Hood (above)

Lynn Collins - The female lead Kayla Silverfox (above in yellow)

Liev Schreiber who plays Sabretooth came by and was very nice, Debbie even got him to sign my little note pad.

I announced that some football players were coming. I guess he plays for the Cardinals and that his first name if I remember after being told a few times is Steve.



While we were waiting for the stars to walk the red carpet people were asking what I could see. I told them I could see a big blonde woman, not that she was big just her hair. They then asked who she was. I hate when people ask me questions that they know I don't know the answer to.


Will i am from the Black Eyed Peas who plays John Wraith

Taylor Kitsch who plays Gambit...I love me some Gambit

Here is Hugh coming down the carpet..see how he was surrounded by people

Going down the red carpet

And he was gone...

After that I headed off to go put our cell phones and cameras in the car. They had security with metal detectors and more checking bags. When Eric and I got the tickets we went to different windows and our tickets were for different theaters. Debbie was saving me a seat when I got back, pretty soon the lights went down and the 20th Century Fox music started to play. It was kind of cool to watch a movie with out any ads or previews before.

The movie is about Wolverine from the time he discovers his mutant ability or claws as a young boy to about 15 years before the first X-Men takes place, that is just a guess on my part. All the X-Men fans will be excited to see Gambit, but don't expect him to show up until later in the movie. Ryan Reynolds does a fantastic job as Wade/Deadpool, very funny and man he is so fantastically hot. And speaking of hot I am going to warn you all Hugh Jackman is nakie for a good little chunk of the movie, man alive he is beautiful. The only other warning I will give is you might want to hang around after the credits.

Just Keeps Getting Better

Thursday I came home for lunch and happened to turn on the TV, something I never do. The news was on and I began to watch it, again something I never do. There they announced that Tempe had won an online contest to have the world premier of Wolverine to show in their home town. You can see the original announcement made by Hugh Jackman here. The news also reported that they were giving away 500 tickets to attended the premier. For those who keep up on my blog you might remember that I mentioned Wolverine as one of the movies I was looking forward to on my blog here. I also mentioned seeing Hugh Jackman and a clip from Wolverine in my post about Comic Con. After I received the news I got rather excited and had to call Mimi I started walk around my living room in circles trying to remember what I was looking for, oh yeah my cell phone.

Friday morning I went into work for a few hours then met up with my little brother Eric and together we headed down to Tempe Marketplace. We got there at 11 am, I went in and talked to a manager who told me they would not be letting lines form until 9pm and that they would have lots of security. He also would not tell me where they were going to have the line. But if we wanted to walk around the shops and stuff that would be fine, but to come back at nine. Like we were going to leave, come on. First Eric and I got lunch and sat by a table close to the theater so we could keep our eye on it. Next we moved over closer to the fire and waterfall from there I saw where I wanted to be. The Coffee Bean which is right next to the theater had a table right there close to the theater. It was perfect we could sit at a coffee shop all day and no one could say a thing to us. Once the people at the table got up to leave we slid in and began our very long wait. While waiting we thought we heard a manager telling the news cameras that the ally way about 5 paces from us is where the line would be. Thankfully my friend Kristen came by to visit with her son Ethan after having dinner with her husband Cory who works close by. We talked and talked like we always do when we get together and it made the time go by so much faster. Cory also told us that was where they always did their lines for their local premiers. When Kristen was leaving Brittney and Amber showed up, it was perfect they sat at the table with us and ate their dinner. Soon the crowd kept getting bigger and bigger, they kept pushing everyone back a few feet back from where we sat. I knew we were sitting pretty to be one of the first in line. The crowd kept creeping forward and a few snuck behind us. I saw the cops and security moving to the doors and I told Eric now he got up and moved for the door I grabbed my bag, Brittney grabbed onto me with crowd hard on our heals. We got in and boom people were shoving and screaming I thought Amber must be close behind us but as I watched people pushing through I could not see her. Soon we saw her and grabbed her, it was a little scary but she wasn't hurt. She did tell me that she left her purse I had to wait for the crowd to go down a little and I had to convince the security to let me out of line and back in but I got her purse and the chairs and blankets that got left in the mad dash. They started the lines early because the crowd was getting to out of control. Mimi and her mom had not gotten to us in time but thankfully they were able to move up the line and stand next to us. Did I mention we were number 10 in line? We were all so compact in the small space, it was a few hours before they were able to move the line up closer to the theater. Where we were able to set up our chairs and blankets. You can see our set up from this picture I stole from this site.

The first two women we adopted into our party, they became fast friends with Mimi's mom. Next to them you can see Eric talking on his cell phone. On the ground you can see my blanket set up for sleeping and just down from that you can see Amber & Britt laying down on their blankets. I think Mimi & I were out at her car getting some stuff and my cardboard cut out of James Dean. I had loaned James Dean to Mimi for a school project and she decided she would return him tonight and that he could watch over us while we slept.
Here is Amber enjoying James.

Of course there were news cameras and reports filming and every time we would look away and try to avoid getting in their shots. Little did Mimi know the attention James would bring, and some how she was gone when the reporter from The Arizona Republic showed up and must have taken like 50 shots of me, James and Eric. She took our names but I have no clue if she will or did use the pictures. It was so very awkward, I even decided just to try and sleep through it but the flash did not make that easy.

I was so glad we got to spread out and were not stuck in the walk way between the two buildings. Eric said he felt like we were VIP but also like we were in a fish bowl. Because everyone who walked out of the theater would stare at us and don't ask me why with 9 people in front of us and hundreds behind us everyone stopped and asked us why were camping out. And by us I mean mostly me, Mimi even gave me the portable DVD player so people would stop bugging me. But no that did not stop them some still bugged me with my headphones and all. During the night we took turns laying down or sitting in the chairs but we all slept doing both. I has such a great time, I am so glad it all worked out and I am super excited for Monday!!! If I had not had such little sleep in the last 72 hours I am sure my excitement would have me jumping through the roof!!! I am going to go ahead and post this massive post event though there are still some funny stories to tell, I am just to tired to type anymore.

Here I am after 22 hours of either sitting in the sun or trying to sleep under the stars...

BOOM BABY!!! - totally worth it

Looks Like A Beautiful Day

Saturday Mimi & I were talking about how cute Debbie was and I said "I don't know how I got so lucky to have Debbie as my sister." And many times after Mimi does something awesome for me I think "everyone needs a Mimi". Without Mimi & Debbie this stuff you are about to read would not have happened.

Saturday was also the Project Book Babe benefit event that Mimi, Debbie & I volunteered at. We started off the day by having lunch with our friend Tamir and then heading over to the event. Where I sold raffle tickets, Mimi signed people in and Debbie got to hang out with Shannon Hale, as her helper. Once Mimi & I got everyone signed in and the raffle tickets sold we went backstage with Debbie to help out with passing out the raffle items. When backstage Debbie had Shannon's camera and was snapping shots for her. One of my favorite moments was when all the authors were off stage in a huddle Debbie was getting photos and got down trying to get a shot and Shannon said "Debbie just lay down and get the shot" so Debbie laid down in the middle of all these authors and took pictures of them. Edit here is the picture off Shannon Hales blog.I was sad I didn't have my camera at that time to take the picture of Debbie. During the raffle Mimi & I got to be out on stage with all the authors helping with checking the winning tickets and stuff. Then they had the live auction which was just insane!!! They had us stand in front and make sure we did not miss any of the bidders.
Items Auctioned:
Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse prom dress: $5500

Advanced Readers Copy of Twilight: $1500

Epilogue to Forever Dawn: $ 5100

Eclipse Draft: $2600

The Host Draft: $1100

Lunch with Stephenie Meyer: $6500 each - The actually had a draw so two winners each paid this.

The Host Skateboard: $ 1500 - The Host Skateboard was designed by Hobo Skate Company whose co-founder is my friends husband, they are both awesome...I am super excited for them!!!

After the auction they had a special reception for those who bought the 300 dollar tickets. Where they got books from all the authors and then went around and got to get them personally signed. We helped out by writing people's names down so they didn't have to keep spelling out their names. Edit See Debbie and I tearing paper to write down names on. Brandon Mull & Shannon Hale...picture from Project Book Babe flickrOnce things started dying down I went out to my car and got my camera & my Shannon Hale books. While getting my books signed I got to talk to Shannon and man she is so super nice and funny. I also got to talk to another of my favorite authors Janette Rallison, I had already got her to sign my books at one of her signings. Man I know how to pick authors because seriously both Janette & Shannon are SO NICE and funny. Debbie decided that we needed to get a picture with Shannon, Janette and Stephenie. Thankfully it is much easier to have Shannon ask Stephenie to take a picture with us. We helped clean up and load some boxes before leaving. While walking out to the car I saw one of the bands that performed Adam Watts Band and realized I never got one of the signed CD's they were giving away so I had Debbie go ask if they had anymore. He did but he wanted to know if I wanted it signed. When they asked I paused because I didn't want to make them sign it but then realized if I said no would be rude and my pause was rude, so with much as enthusiasm as I could muster I say something like yeah that would be great. But since I don't have much practice at being fake you could totally hear how fake my enthusiasm was. But Adam just laughed and said you can't say no you will hurt my feelings. Well we were all laughing but I did get them to sign it and they were all again very nice and had us all (all being Mimi, Debbie, Tamir & I) laughing. So I got to meet musicians, authors, and help raise money for breast cancer, it was my kind of day!
All the authors from the panel, Shannon making everyone laugh as usual.

Mimi took this picture with out saying one two three or anything...Is it just me or is Stephenie looking at Debbie and smiling.. I love this picture even if I am sticking my booty out so Shannon could put her arm around me.

Here is the one with the one two three and a little less booty.



Here are my books Shannon signed can you read what she wrote? I LOVE THEM!!!
For Austenland she wrote Mr. Darcy thinks you are Hot!!! (how did she know)

Oh and we came home and found out that Debbie had been on the news...Check it out here...In the video Debbie is sitting next to the book babe, in the front row taking pictures for Shannon.

And if you did not see Shannon Hales blog you need to go here and see. The first picture of Debbie and I am Debbie's cute sister Connie. - seriously so nice.