Playing "Post" Catch-up

I realized that it's been a while since I've updated my blog and now that I have some time with the holidays I thought I'd try to catch up! So, the Shannon Hale book signing was in September 2009 (we had an unusually warm fall - hence the 3/4 sleeve cardigan).

In November I had the amazing opportunity to travel in Egypt! I went with Go Ahead Tours with many of the same friends I traveled with to Greece a year and a half ago. We pretty much covered most of Egypt in the 15 days that we traveled! It was incredible! I think my favorite sites were Karnak and Luxor Temples. I also enjoyed the "baseball shopping" with the "Nile Pirates" where they come up to our cruise ship while we're waiting for our turn to go through the river locks. They yell up to you on the top deck of the cruise ship and throw their merchandise up to you. If you want it, you throw money back to them in another bag with merchandise. Sometimes items end up in the pool or in the Nile or in a life boat - depending on your baseball arm! Egypt was probably one of my favorite trips because we had such fun traveling companions and met some new people who would be fun to travel with again in the future!

We were fortunate to have an Egyptologist as our tour director and he was very knowledgeable and had a fun sense of humor. He took very good care of us and I never felt like I was in danger or had any negative experiences on my trip. Tourism is the main economic source for the country so if you have the means to travel and have never been to Egypt before, I definitely recommend it! We flew 6 times to get from different cities within Egypt but we covered the Northern Mediterrean border (in Alexandria), near the Sudan border (in Abu Simbel), and the Sinai Pennisula (Sharm el Sheikh). I took over 1,000 pictures (remember, I'm Japanese and was armed with a new Nikon digital camera!). Another great stamp in my passport!

My First Book Signing - well, maybe second

Shannon Hale, a favorite local author, was signing books at the King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City. One of my other friends actually told me about it but then thought we wouldn't make it in time after attending a play at the Hale Center Theater. But I thought that I would just give it a try and was surprised to discover the line wasn't very long. So I picked up a couple of books - her "new release" "Forest Born" and "The Actor and the Housewife" and stood in line. There were a couple of college-age ladies in front of me so I asked to make sure it was the end of the line. They asked "What letter do you have?" "What, I need a letter?" Yes, they were "G" and the line was short because people weren't getting in line until their alphabetical letters were called. "Where do I get a letter?" Apparently, as you came in for the book signing presentation at the beginning you were issued a letter. Well, a very kind lady standing in line in front of these college "Little Red Riding Hood" groupies (I found out they go to ALL of Shannon's book signings and one of them also is part of the pre-release book readers), handed me her letter "G" piece of paper and said her daughter was given a separate one but I could have it. Such kindness and generosity! I still ended up standing in line for over an hour but it was pleasant to visit with others in line. Shannon is also very gracious and personable. Part of the reason why it took a while to get through the line is because she enjoys talking with everyone individually and getting a better feel on what to write in the books she's autographing. I'm glad that I decided to go and I'm very grateful for the lady who gave me her extra letter "G." I think my first book signing was actually with Richard Paul Evans over 7 years ago when I was fortunate enough to win a free book - I rarely win anything and I remember being dismayed and excited! The trick is to crumple up your drawing form a little so it stands out! Just a little tip to pass along! :)