Idle Idol

Went to the LA Times Festival of Books today. I would have gone yesterday as well but I have class on Saturdays.
I'm never terribly enthused to attend cultural events, but I like to pretend that I am. To get tickets to the festival, I had to go to a Ticketmaster outlet in Glendale and then wait in line. Who'd of thunk you'd have to wait in line for a book fair? But people like books. While in line I ran into an acquaintance from years ago. It was great. Cause it looks like I'm cultured waiting in line for a book fair.

So today was my big book fair day. I attended a Hollywood Confidential panel with Jerry Stahl, an author that looked like Dick Cheney, Seth Greenland and another author whose name escapes me. Thanks to that panel I am now out $27 bucks because I went out and purchased Greenland's "The Bones". He read a page or two and suddenly I'm poorer for it. Thanks a lot, Seth. Then again, that's exactly why authors go to these things, to push their books...oh, and be literary and artsy.

Walter Mosley impressed me greatly even though I've yet to read any of his books. I will have to rectify that situation soon.

T.C. Boyle has a collection of short stories coming out. I know this because I saw him talk today as well. I am now more aware than ever that my use of language is, ahhh, what's the word? Oh yeah, limited. So he was good, though I did dose off a bit. Remind me again to write about Paxil side effects.

Then I went to a panel of short story panel. I don't think I'd read any of the panelists' works, although I will now be compelled to check out some Aimee Bender and Steve Almond stories.

The short story panel cut into the Eric Idle interview so I only caught half of that. They have Q & A sessions for each panel and I wanted to ask Eric if he remembered me at all. I've run into him several times hiking with my dog. If I remember correctly, he had one of those really cute terriers. You know, the Frasier dog. In any case, as I approached him he told me he'd just spotted a coyote. I don't know if I said anything or not. Probably thanks. What do you say to a Python? But I didn't ask him that. Idle is completely charming.

Must talk about my latest obsession soon. Something-cast. That's to remind me. I love it. 10 points to whomever guesses what I mean by Something-cast. Hint: has nothing to do with acting or auditions.

Shoot. Bye.