Saturday, July 11, 1998

Saturday dawned an absolutely, positively GORGEOUS day!

After we got up and got going (lots of broads -- some a little hung over ;-), we headed for Boonsboro (3 vehicle caravan). Our goal was to meet Ruth & have breakfast with Ruth & her mom. When we arrived in Boonsboro, Ruth and her mom were waiting outside.

Because a couple broads needed to use the facilities, Ruth took them up into her apartment. Then, disaster nearly struck. Down the steps came Biscuit, Ruth's dog. He ran right through us -- right out into the middle of main street -- with a vehicle bearing right down on him. Imagine 15 women SCREAMING in unison. The scream is probably what saved Biscuit's life because the vehicle quickly slammed on its brakes. Still, Biscuit was hit & scared & took off. (Thankfully, he returned later in the day -- and he appeared to be unharmed)

Since time was now an issue (Ruth had to go to work!), we decided to eat at this diner across the street from TTP -- called Donna's Diner. Once again --imagine, if you will, 16 women entering a diner with only ONE waitress/cook on duty! Remarkably, she managed to wait on all of us and get us our breakfasts w/out making us late for THE EVENT.

While we were waiting, I went outside & found Carolyn! She was positively gorgeous in this snappy sundress -- of course, she was in her white convertible Mustang! Then, because I was expecting Jaci to arrive soon, I went outside again. Next person to be found was Pam! Eventually, Jaci arrived, we all were well-fed, and it was time to start our day!

Carolyn created a magic moment -- as well as a head-turning event -- when she posed on the hood of her Mustang for us!

We went across the street to TTP and greeted BW, Jason, and NORA! Like they did for the May 1 signing, the tables were set-up in Dan's living room. When the signing started, Nora, Lisa Scottoline, and Mary Kay McComas (MK) shared one table; Susan King, Donna Kauffman, and a Civil War author were at the other.

I love to soak in the atmosphere of TTP, so I wandered about the store. I met up with a tall lady in a summer dress -- she asked me a question (which I couldn't answer) ... and then, a few minutes later, I realized that this was MK! She claimed that she didn't recognize me, either, so I didn't feel so bad.

Once things started, there were lots & lots & lots of people there! Broads had books & t-shirts to be signed; I did bring some backlist titles for Nora, Lisa, MK, and Donna to sign, so I made several trips through the line.

Lisa Scottoline was great fun to meet! She is funny & sassy, just like her heroines in her stories! She seemed genuinely pleased to receive an ADWOFF t-shirt ... and she proudly wore TTP's t-shirt over her own shirt.

I kept waiting for another favorite author to arrive, Pat (Gaff) Gaffney. She finally arrived, albeit a little late -- with a little less $$$! She fell behind, so she tried to make up for it by speeding and was caught ====:-O ... All in all, Gaff tried to keep her sense of humor. I also tried to get details about her first hardcover, The Saving Graces, due out in June 1999. What I heard has sold me already!

BW didn't seem as frazzled this time (perhaps NOT having broads invade his store at 10 o'clock in the morning makes the difference! ;-) -- and he talked a lot about his photo show in Sheperdstown. He invited us to go; several of us took him up on his invitation.

The show in Sheperdstown was great fun ... it was in a combination gallery/antique store. BW's pictures were in black & white -- the ones of the graveyards are the ones which really caught my eye. I hope to add them to my collection of photos one day soon.

Saturday night was going to be a night for DANCING! It was decided that we were going to head for an oldies place called Legends. We had our own room -- which was great -- because we were just a tad rowdy.

We soon discovered, however, that dancing would be out because there was a dress code! ===:-O T-shirts were not allowed (unless they had a pocket -- go figure). We could hear the music, so we did a little bit of dancing in our room (check out the pictures!). Another memorable moment was that the majority of the Broads received the WRONG meal!

When we arrived back at the hotel, we invaded the patio area outside the pool area. There, for the second year in a row, we were busted by hotel management! We were too loud! There were three calls within minutes. They did give us an alternative -- we were able to take over the dining area.

Inside, we were able to talk, but more importantly, Wym & Nancy were able to rehearse THE SONG that they were going to perform for Nora on Sunday. We were all ROTF with Nancy's BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sweetest moment of the night came when Ruth announced that her dear hubby missed her so much (they had never spent a night away from one another -- married February 14, 1998) that he was going to have a friend who drove a taxi bring her home!