Did meet my second official real life writer whom I love oh-so-very much today. *Sigh*

Celia Rivenbark who, as many of you know, is one of the writers I have pledged my undying blog love too - was at the opening of the new Barnes and Noble today.

AND let me just take a moment to pause and say, with all my literary heart, that OMG that place is awesome! AWESOME. There are shelves upon shelves and open spaces and comfy couches and NEARLY AN ENTIRE WALL OF JOURNALS. JOURNALS!! SPIRAL BOUND. LEATHER BOUND. JOURNALS WITH PEACOCKS AND KITTENS. JOURNAL WALL. THAT’S WHAT I CALL IT! JOURNAL WALL! There is light spilling from the heavens and BARGAIN BOOKS and nice Barnes and Noble people and coffee and a kids area way over yonder in the corner where bratty heathens can be loud amongst themselves and there are DVDS and CDS and book lights and book bags and book marks and BATHROOMS FOR PUBLIC USE. Why there aren’t any actual angels playing harps and hovering just above the Starbucks and the Self Help section is well … frankly … just shocking.

But Celia, who is a fabulous writer who is from around these parts and who lives in Wilmington and writes a humor column along with her wonderful books, SHE was there to sign books for people like me. Her fans. Those of us who want to collect her straw wrappers so we can add it to the other pieces in our Celia shrine we have at our house. That reminds me. I need candles.

So I meet her and she was all so sweet and nice and funny. Very kind to the others who showed to meet her and get their books signed. She signed mine and, as I did with Nancy Peacock who is also simply wonderful, I shall not devulge the message, but I *will* say that, my blog? This here Toler Thing? She called it “fab.”
(!)

Me and Celia. We’re SO going to get matching tatoos and shop for shoes together. I just know it.

Here’s a pic …

Yes, that is SO my business card she is holding. Why? Because we’re networking. We writers. We network.
Here’s another:

I have to say … I think that the prevalence of the word “skank” in this moment is rather poetic.

(PS, Manda, got your copy and it’s signed