I write this in a state of absolute morning grogginess. The clock in my car said 7:34 when I left my house this morning. I'm supposed to be at work at 7:30.

Last night I went to bookpeople to see/hear Adrian Tomine, author/illustrator/comic guy who does Optic Nerve. The only other time I've been to a book signing/q&a was when Ian Mclagan was giving a reading and we went to see if Kim Moon (Keith Moon's widow/ex-wife) was there since she's married to Mclagan now (she was there).

Anyway for some reason I was pretty nervous about the whole thing - social anxiety and all. I turned out really great, though. They have a small "events" room up on the third floor and Tomine was seated there with the book editor of the statesman. The statesman guy conducted a little interview and then opened up the floor for questions. I had been wondering how they were gonna do a "reading" for a comic book. So after that was over we all lined up with our freshly purchased copies of his Sketchbook to have them doodled on personally. It was surprisingly natural and not at all awkward (well, ok a bit awkward). I also had a nice chat with a cool girl while waiting in line. I shoulda asked for her number or something cause how often do you meet a cute girl as geeky (or more) than yourself. We were talking about comics, blah blah, but she really killed me when she lamented the closing on Adventures In Crime & Space a great, little sci-fi bookstore that closed a year or two ago.

So I got my book signed/doodled and went out to casino w/Amanda hence the grogginess this morning.