JAMES, JAMES, JAMES, JAMES, JAMES *sigh*
Okay, on a freakin' high from having seen the MAN himself last weekend. 2 Q & A's, 2 Autograph sessions, 1 Banquet and one kick-ass, bitchin' picture of all of us at the table when James came around! My daughter is to the left and I'm right behind his head, looking...dare I say it??? Effulgent...*sigh* We're the ones with the necklaces.

They had him sit right next to where I was standing for the picture. Told us only one pic per table, but it turned out so great!!!! Of course, April says to him, "Can I give you a hug?" and he replies, "Of course," so she does, the little wench! Then he sits down right in front of me (hey, I wasn't moving!) pictures are taken, then when he gets up (not to be outdone by my beautiful, young daughter) I also ask for a hug, and he gives me one.

*SIGH*

I feel his nice strong arms and smell the leather of his jacket.

ummmmm.....leather....smell of leather.....leather....spike......james.....leather.....ummmmm!

That picture of us all is worth the $120 I spent on a dinner that was only so-so, served by Brunhilda/Eva Braun. But our table was a blast. Erin, Sabrina, another mom/daughter group, Veronica, Yelena, April, and me. Rauchy, funny, funny women, all of us!

Now a bit on the rest of the JM experience. Have to report on the rest of the weekend some other time, whcih included James Leary, Iyari Limon, Andy Hallett, and snake boy - Robin Atkin Downes, Karoke, Bronze Dance, Costume Contest, Musical on the big screen....memories!


Gifts, given and graciously received...
Okay, thought I'd might report on the gift giving.

On Saturday, in the autograph line, I gave James the front cover (attached to the 180+) bound story of SEEING YOU that was the first one I wrote. I had put into plastic, a copy of the dedication page and both a CD & disk of the story. He looked pretty amazed at the size of it, as I mumbled something about not wanting to give him such a heavy thing to carry, even though paper is easier to read than the disks. The woman next to him, said something about, "Yeah, my eyes start to bother me reading the computer screen all the time," or something to that effect. It was short and sweet. I said something about my first story being, "Over ambitious and far reaching..." don't know what else I said, think he thought that was what I was giving him, as he looked pretty freakin' awed at the size.

I don't even think he'll ever read my story, or any of the stories out there, as he's stated, he likes to keep his head together, but still, I was glad to do it. Only wished I could have told him how much he was an inspiration for me to write. Hopefully, though, maybe he'll read the dedication. That's the very most I can hope for.

Sunday: during the Q & A, I almost did the happy dance, when someone asked him who his musical influences were, and he mentioned Joni Mitchell! I had burned him about a dozen CD's, 2 of which contained 3 Joni Mitchell CD's: Hejira, Dog Eat Dog, and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, along with a mix, which included Joni's River, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, etc.,. And other, newer CD's.

So, I get up to the table and tell him I'm glad he mentioned Joni...b'cuz I made him some Joni CD's and he said, "Yes," and then I babble something about having heard he liked liked Joni Mitchell and said that I thought he'd be the kind of guy to like Joni, and he says, "Totally!" Then I go on to babble about the reason there was one 'real' CD - The Tubes, because I didn't have a CD burner yet, he takes the whole package (quite large, rubberbanded, with all the titles on the front, and says, "Holy shit!" as he turns it over to see The Tubes CD on the back. I told him I hoped he liked The Tubes, and he said, "The Tubes rock!" and I further jestured with my hands and babbled about how I'd seen The Tubes live (he said he never did) and how this Tubes CD was very diff. from something like White Punks on Dope (he laughed, think this was in the end) and how this one was romantic and emotional or somthing else I can't remember. *oh, the internal screaming in my head - did I just tell him something was romantic?* *Gaaahhhh!* Told him I'd see him we'd see him in Chicago and he said, "Great, it ought to be a good show," to paraphrase.

I think that made my day! The fact that he mentioned Joni Mitchell and I had it right then and there! Now, if only I had told hubby to only tape James' lovely face during the exchange, instead of me - talking with my hands and jesturing - where's a machete when I need one? Gaaaahhhh!

The reason for The Tubes, in particular? I wrote my story to it and incorporated some of the words into it. Also, have some very nice, warm, fuzzy memories of a particular evening about 17 years ago, associated with that music Just love that CD!

Oh, just remembered, said something about him being able to have some music to listen to on the plane, and he said, "Yeah, just pop it into the CD player," or something like that, and I said, "Yeah, there you go." Lame much? Of course, he put them all in the box, with the other gifts, but maybe he actually took them with him, or at the very least, will have a chance later on to listen to the CD's I made him.

Overall, I was really happy with that choice and think he was, too.

spikealicious

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