Meeting Alton Brown
Feb. 1st, 2005 08:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coffeesnob318Very exciting business. Short version - Yay! *jumps around*
Very exciting business. I drove to Austin on Saturday to see![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nonnierms. We talked from the time I got there around 6:00 until we went to bed at almost 3:00 am, after I met Mr. Nonnie. We got up the next morning at 9:30 (ok – I got up at 9:30 – apparently, they had been up for a while because they were showered and dressed when they woke me). We had breakfast at Magnolia Café (mmm…eggs Florentine were soo worth the 30-minute wait), making Mr. Nonnie late for work. After we dropped him off at home, and I changed clothes (have I told you that I was nervous?), we left for Book People.
Book People is this large, independently owned bookstore in Austin at 6th and Lamar, right by the Whole Foods. If you’re ever in Austin, that’s the place to go. Large enough to offer reasonable prices, but still supporting the local yokel. Yay! It’s a good thing that it’s big, because it was crazy in there. Even though there was a 6-story parking garage, in addition to the lot that Whole Foods and Book People share, it took 30 minutes just to find a parking space. At least, I think it did. Anxiety tends to warp my time perception. I just remember thinking, “The sign says there’s a 3-hour limit. It’s 1:30 – the festivities start at 3:00 – surely we’ll be out of there by 4:30.” Heh. Suffice it to say that I was not headed back toward Denton until after 8:00, and there was a pretty daunting line still behind us when we left.
Anyway, I bought I’m Just Here for the Food (I know – the tour was to promote the second one, but I could only afford to buy one this weekend, and I wanted the first one more), a mug that reads “Keep Austin Weird – support independent businesses,” or something like that, and a decorative bag for the Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate that I brought for him. *cough*shamelesspimp*cough*
Then I got my number. D26. The line started with A0. I started to pity the people who showed up less than an hour early. After I got my number, we went to stand in line. They had already blocked off the stairs because the room was getting crowded and people were congregating on the stairs, which violates fire codes (as if the kajillion people crammed into the building didn’t? I’m not generally a bettin’ girl, but I’d wager that we were beyond official capacity). So we stood in line for the elevator, giving me plenty of time to browse and double my Amazon wish list (note that I did not buy anything else and be proud of me. Did I mention that I have a birthmonth coming up…).
Once we got to the second floor, site of the impending glorious meeting, we meandered around the outskirts of the crowd until we were able to find a space within viewing range of the blessed place where AB would be standing.
Then we waited. Babies cried, and children whined (nonnierms and I decided that maybe the date of a crowded book-signing is a great afternoon for Grandma or that friend who owes you a favor to babysit). Students from the local school of culinary arts handed out an assortment of quiche, cookies, and scones (which was pretty smart – nothing calms an impatient mob like free food). Girls standing behind us complained about how inconsiderate it was for taller people to stand in front of them and then proceeded to move so that they (both of them taller than we) were standing in front of us. *blinks* Oh, well. At least they stopped complaining. We got a lot of great shots of their hair when trying to get AB.
Then, after one of the guys from the store teased us, AB descended from the third floor to greet the adoring throng. The mood lightened. Babies hushed their crying. The adolescent standing near me, who was ready to leave at 2:30, finally shut up. Flashes of light, which could have possibly been reflections of angels’ wings (but were probably just cameras) filled the room.
As the cheering slowed, Alton (I’ve met him now - I can call him Alton – he said so) graciously thanked us and told some of the more enthusiastic people in the front to “save some for the next city.” He talked about why he wrote the book and made us make corrections in it (at which point I was kicking myself for having only bought the first one. But the new one will be mine – oh yes, it will – very soon – and I will make the corrections as directed). He asked us that, if we wanted pictures at the signing, to please be ready and actually know how to use the camera. He also warned us not to drop camera phones, because he despises them and was likely to stomp it out of reflex. He also complimented Austin’s fantastic restaurant scene and wished he could move there but, alas, the grandmas wouldn’t hear of it unless he agreed to leave their grandkids behind in Georgia. :)
He opened the floor for questions. There was a question concerning a show featuring the use of fresh game (remember, we’re in Texas), and he said that when he had pitched such an idea to the network, they had responded, “You want to cook Bambi?” – the memory of which launched him into a nice verbal fist-shaking at Disney, which I found highly entertaining. He responded to the “How does it feel to be a sex symbol?” question by musing that, at that very moment, his wife was somewhere in Georgia, rolling her eyes. The best thing that he had to say about breadmakers was that they make a nice sound when dropped from a considerable height, but he grudgingly stated that he supposed the finished loaves they produce are better than regular store-bought sliced bread but that nothing compared to results achieved by more conventional methods. He was asked if, like the host of the original Iron Chef, he would ever compete in Iron Chef America himself. He mysteriously mentioned that there was a public outcry for a match between him and Rachel Ray, and the crowd went crazy when he said that he would gladly accept and pick his teeth with her bones when it was over. He’s great with an audience; two thumbs up from this speech instructor!
Then came the signing (i.e., more waiting).nonnierms and I sat nearby to gauge about how long it would take to get to D26, but when they were still on A0-A50 forty-five minutes later, we decided to go get a snack. We went to Whole Foods, but almost everything they had in the way of prepared food either a) contained something that her doctor told her not to eat or something that would nauseate her, or b) was too expensive. Let’s face it – I’m cheap and spoiled. If I pay $7 for a tiny piece of grilled salmon, I want it served to me on a plate with some asparagus, perhaps a little rice, and brought to me warm – not shoved, cold, into a plastic container and handed to me over a counter. I could even get it for less at Central Market. *stops herself before she pulls out shawl and walker and starts reminiscing about “back in my day”*
So we went back to the coffee shop at Book People, but only coffee and dessert were served there. Strike two. Back we go to WF (no way was I going to chance losing my parking space), bypassing the prepared foods completely, and bought regular items – bread, cheese, bananas. Much better. Great meal, very satisfying. We contemplated speaking in French to complete our nod to their culture. Of course, as I don’t actually know French, I would have had to remain silent. Maybe that was her plan...hey! *feigns offense*
After eating, which killed a whole 30-60 minutes (still nervous – still no sense of time), we went back over and just found a place to sit. I read most of Debt free by 30 - I was curious to see if they could actually do it in 2 months’ time. They couldn’t, but it passed the time nicely while Nonnie catnapped on the floor.
Then, my number group was called. I’m pretty sure the Hallelujah Chorus was being sung. Nervous butterflies awoke from their slumber and started flitting around in my stomach. I moved to the line, trembling slightly. The nearby wind chimes being disturbed by a bored child matched the ringing in my ears.
The line moved pretty quickly. Before I knew it, I was standing face to face with Alton Brown. He was great. I was flustered. I had told Nonnie to nudge me if I rambled – I tend to ramble when I’m nervous – but no need because I could barely think of anything to say. I told him that I got him coffee and chocolate (which, in retrospect, I realize that he probably could have figured out on his own, since he’s sharp like that). It gave me something to say beyond, “Nice to meet you” and instead of “psfsdkrjst,” which was what my goo-filled mind was thinking. He said thank you and that he was pleased to accept them both (I have a vague memory of mentioning that I tried to keep the coffee as fresh as possible but that there was chocolate to appease him if I had failed, so that was probably what the “I’ll take both” comment was in reference to). He signed my book and thanked me for coming and asked if I wanted a picture (which I was in serious danger of forgetting at the moment, so God bless Nonnie for being nearby and conspicuously armed with a camera). We posed; I said goodbye and concentrated on not falling down the stairs as I walked away.
If you are ever at an event where pictures must be taken, I highly recommend takingnonnierms along. She was fantastic. While everyone else came away with their measly one shot of themselves with Alton's arm around them, I have that:
…of him signing the book…
…of him accepting the bag o’treats…
Practically every precious moment I was there is documented. She even took pictures of what I looked like before Alton (I’m sooo not photogenic):
…and what I looked like after Alton (because a thing like that is likely to change you):
(OK, so the last two were both taken post-Alton, but they’re still a fun way to tell a story.)
As my sense of time returned, and I noticed that, since it was nearing 8:00, I wasn’t going to be home and snug in bed until midnight, we visited the coffee shop and got coffee for me and tea for Nonnie. Then we high-tailed it out of there. I took her home and said goodbye to her and Piper (*squeaky voice* aw cute kitty /squeaky voice) and drove home. The surge of meeting Alton (ok, the caffeine probably had a little to do with it, too) kept me awake until I was safe at home. I can’t remember if I had dreams, but, if so, I’m sure they were sweet.
Very exciting business. I drove to Austin on Saturday to see
nonnierms. We talked from the time I got there around 6:00 until we went to bed at almost 3:00 am, after I met Mr. Nonnie. We got up the next morning at 9:30 (ok – I got up at 9:30 – apparently, they had been up for a while because they were showered and dressed when they woke me). We had breakfast at Magnolia Café (mmm…eggs Florentine were soo worth the 30-minute wait), making Mr. Nonnie late for work. After we dropped him off at home, and I changed clothes (have I told you that I was nervous?), we left for Book People.Book People is this large, independently owned bookstore in Austin at 6th and Lamar, right by the Whole Foods. If you’re ever in Austin, that’s the place to go. Large enough to offer reasonable prices, but still supporting the local yokel. Yay! It’s a good thing that it’s big, because it was crazy in there. Even though there was a 6-story parking garage, in addition to the lot that Whole Foods and Book People share, it took 30 minutes just to find a parking space. At least, I think it did. Anxiety tends to warp my time perception. I just remember thinking, “The sign says there’s a 3-hour limit. It’s 1:30 – the festivities start at 3:00 – surely we’ll be out of there by 4:30.” Heh. Suffice it to say that I was not headed back toward Denton until after 8:00, and there was a pretty daunting line still behind us when we left.
Anyway, I bought I’m Just Here for the Food (I know – the tour was to promote the second one, but I could only afford to buy one this weekend, and I wanted the first one more), a mug that reads “Keep Austin Weird – support independent businesses,” or something like that, and a decorative bag for the Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate that I brought for him. *cough*shamelesspimp*cough*
Then I got my number. D26. The line started with A0. I started to pity the people who showed up less than an hour early. After I got my number, we went to stand in line. They had already blocked off the stairs because the room was getting crowded and people were congregating on the stairs, which violates fire codes (as if the kajillion people crammed into the building didn’t? I’m not generally a bettin’ girl, but I’d wager that we were beyond official capacity). So we stood in line for the elevator, giving me plenty of time to browse and double my Amazon wish list (note that I did not buy anything else and be proud of me. Did I mention that I have a birthmonth coming up…).
Once we got to the second floor, site of the impending glorious meeting, we meandered around the outskirts of the crowd until we were able to find a space within viewing range of the blessed place where AB would be standing.
Then we waited. Babies cried, and children whined (
nonnierms and I decided that maybe the date of a crowded book-signing is a great afternoon for Grandma or that friend who owes you a favor to babysit). Students from the local school of culinary arts handed out an assortment of quiche, cookies, and scones (which was pretty smart – nothing calms an impatient mob like free food). Girls standing behind us complained about how inconsiderate it was for taller people to stand in front of them and then proceeded to move so that they (both of them taller than we) were standing in front of us. *blinks* Oh, well. At least they stopped complaining. We got a lot of great shots of their hair when trying to get AB.Then, after one of the guys from the store teased us, AB descended from the third floor to greet the adoring throng. The mood lightened. Babies hushed their crying. The adolescent standing near me, who was ready to leave at 2:30, finally shut up. Flashes of light, which could have possibly been reflections of angels’ wings (but were probably just cameras) filled the room.
As the cheering slowed, Alton (I’ve met him now - I can call him Alton – he said so) graciously thanked us and told some of the more enthusiastic people in the front to “save some for the next city.” He talked about why he wrote the book and made us make corrections in it (at which point I was kicking myself for having only bought the first one. But the new one will be mine – oh yes, it will – very soon – and I will make the corrections as directed). He asked us that, if we wanted pictures at the signing, to please be ready and actually know how to use the camera. He also warned us not to drop camera phones, because he despises them and was likely to stomp it out of reflex. He also complimented Austin’s fantastic restaurant scene and wished he could move there but, alas, the grandmas wouldn’t hear of it unless he agreed to leave their grandkids behind in Georgia. :)
He opened the floor for questions. There was a question concerning a show featuring the use of fresh game (remember, we’re in Texas), and he said that when he had pitched such an idea to the network, they had responded, “You want to cook Bambi?” – the memory of which launched him into a nice verbal fist-shaking at Disney, which I found highly entertaining. He responded to the “How does it feel to be a sex symbol?” question by musing that, at that very moment, his wife was somewhere in Georgia, rolling her eyes. The best thing that he had to say about breadmakers was that they make a nice sound when dropped from a considerable height, but he grudgingly stated that he supposed the finished loaves they produce are better than regular store-bought sliced bread but that nothing compared to results achieved by more conventional methods. He was asked if, like the host of the original Iron Chef, he would ever compete in Iron Chef America himself. He mysteriously mentioned that there was a public outcry for a match between him and Rachel Ray, and the crowd went crazy when he said that he would gladly accept and pick his teeth with her bones when it was over. He’s great with an audience; two thumbs up from this speech instructor!
Then came the signing (i.e., more waiting).
nonnierms and I sat nearby to gauge about how long it would take to get to D26, but when they were still on A0-A50 forty-five minutes later, we decided to go get a snack. We went to Whole Foods, but almost everything they had in the way of prepared food either a) contained something that her doctor told her not to eat or something that would nauseate her, or b) was too expensive. Let’s face it – I’m cheap and spoiled. If I pay $7 for a tiny piece of grilled salmon, I want it served to me on a plate with some asparagus, perhaps a little rice, and brought to me warm – not shoved, cold, into a plastic container and handed to me over a counter. I could even get it for less at Central Market. *stops herself before she pulls out shawl and walker and starts reminiscing about “back in my day”* So we went back to the coffee shop at Book People, but only coffee and dessert were served there. Strike two. Back we go to WF (no way was I going to chance losing my parking space), bypassing the prepared foods completely, and bought regular items – bread, cheese, bananas. Much better. Great meal, very satisfying. We contemplated speaking in French to complete our nod to their culture. Of course, as I don’t actually know French, I would have had to remain silent. Maybe that was her plan...hey! *feigns offense*
After eating, which killed a whole 30-60 minutes (still nervous – still no sense of time), we went back over and just found a place to sit. I read most of Debt free by 30 - I was curious to see if they could actually do it in 2 months’ time. They couldn’t, but it passed the time nicely while Nonnie catnapped on the floor.
Then, my number group was called. I’m pretty sure the Hallelujah Chorus was being sung. Nervous butterflies awoke from their slumber and started flitting around in my stomach. I moved to the line, trembling slightly. The nearby wind chimes being disturbed by a bored child matched the ringing in my ears.
The line moved pretty quickly. Before I knew it, I was standing face to face with Alton Brown. He was great. I was flustered. I had told Nonnie to nudge me if I rambled – I tend to ramble when I’m nervous – but no need because I could barely think of anything to say. I told him that I got him coffee and chocolate (which, in retrospect, I realize that he probably could have figured out on his own, since he’s sharp like that). It gave me something to say beyond, “Nice to meet you” and instead of “psfsdkrjst,” which was what my goo-filled mind was thinking. He said thank you and that he was pleased to accept them both (I have a vague memory of mentioning that I tried to keep the coffee as fresh as possible but that there was chocolate to appease him if I had failed, so that was probably what the “I’ll take both” comment was in reference to). He signed my book and thanked me for coming and asked if I wanted a picture (which I was in serious danger of forgetting at the moment, so God bless Nonnie for being nearby and conspicuously armed with a camera). We posed; I said goodbye and concentrated on not falling down the stairs as I walked away.
If you are ever at an event where pictures must be taken, I highly recommend taking
nonnierms along. She was fantastic. While everyone else came away with their measly one shot of themselves with Alton's arm around them, I have that:…of him signing the book…
…of him accepting the bag o’treats…
Practically every precious moment I was there is documented. She even took pictures of what I looked like before Alton (I’m sooo not photogenic):
…and what I looked like after Alton (because a thing like that is likely to change you):
(OK, so the last two were both taken post-Alton, but they’re still a fun way to tell a story.)
As my sense of time returned, and I noticed that, since it was nearing 8:00, I wasn’t going to be home and snug in bed until midnight, we visited the coffee shop and got coffee for me and tea for Nonnie. Then we high-tailed it out of there. I took her home and said goodbye to her and Piper (*squeaky voice* aw cute kitty /squeaky voice) and drove home. The surge of meeting Alton (ok, the caffeine probably had a little to do with it, too) kept me awake until I was safe at home. I can’t remember if I had dreams, but, if so, I’m sure they were sweet.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 06:42 pm (UTC)PS - You're pretty!!
It's nice to put a face to a name now.
:D
I love the before/after shot.
You seemed to have handled it pretty well.
I would have been speaking gibberish and foaming at the mouth in that situation.
:P
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 06:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 06:53 pm (UTC):p
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Date: 2005-02-01 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 06:23 am (UTC):p
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Date: 2005-02-01 07:07 pm (UTC)It is sweet of him to remind people of pictures yet cool that he insists that they know how to use the camera.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 10:10 am (UTC)he he he
Date: 2005-02-01 07:19 pm (UTC)and quite coureagous too, thinking about meeting someone I'd like.... like Mr Rosenbaum, and the first thing I do is trying to find an escape route O_O
Dunan Nuts
Re: he he he
Date: 2005-02-02 10:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 09:33 pm (UTC)i'm glad you had a blast and you're a terrific storyteller. I was truly *not being sarcastic* riveted to reading your post until the very last drop of info. I don't even know who AB is, but he sounds funny, and he reminds me a little of me with the camera phone thing.
and yay nonnie for being such a good photographer
ps, love the before and after pics
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 10:12 am (UTC)Yeah, I don't know what I would have done without her. It would have just been me and my sad little disposable camera.
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Date: 2005-02-01 09:56 pm (UTC)*bounces for you* it's so great when we can meet celebrities!
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Date: 2005-02-02 10:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 01:03 am (UTC)and the before and after pics are such a great idea ;)
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Date: 2005-02-02 10:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:51 am (UTC)*bounces around*
*showers you with glitter and confetti*
I'M SO EFFING EXCITED FOR YOU OMG!!!1!!!11!!!
What an awesome time you must have had and have I told you lately you have a way with words? (speech teacher, DUH, but still).
I loved this -
It gave me something to say beyond, “Nice to meet you” and instead of “psfsdkrjst,” which was what my goo-filled mind was thinking.
That's exactly spot-on how I felt...once I was face to face with him. I was lucky I remembered my own name (come to think of it, DID I? Or did he only know it because it was on the post-it the bookstore employee stuck into my book?). All the things I wanted to say, and I think I managed a couple phrases, interspersed with much awkward silence, until he had to ask me what I did for a living to fill some time. Oy.
"psfsdkrjst" Yep. That's pretty much it. Great minds must think alike when they're pushed beyond the snapping point.
I told him that I got him coffee and chocolate (which, in retrospect, I realize that he probably could have figured out on his own, since he’s sharp like that).
*snicker*
You brought him the coffee! I'll wager he'll be raving about it on his website in no time. Then he'll ask you to marry him, and I will cry. But eventually be happy for you. Eventually.
Great pics, by the way. He looks scruffy and adorable and you look ecstatic and adorable!
And I'm not convinced the flashes of light weren't angel wings myself.
ALTON!!!
*dance of joy*
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 10:18 am (UTC)I'm convinced that that is 90% of the reason that they did it - so that the squealing fans wouldn't be embarrassed to forget their own names.
And don't worry - when we're married, I'll invite you over for dinner. ;)
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Date: 2005-02-02 10:41 am (UTC)I'll bring the chocolate mayo cake.
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Date: 2005-02-02 10:57 am (UTC)Mmm...cake...
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Date: 2005-02-02 08:07 am (UTC)And you are right about the photos....make a note that Nonnie must go with us to all future events...she did a great job of capturing what happened! You look beautiful!!
g
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 10:20 am (UTC)This morning, someone asked me what I talked about with him, and I had to refer them to my post. I couldn't remember. My mind is still a mass of goo.
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Date: 2005-02-02 01:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 04:09 pm (UTC)