"You can hear my laugh even when I am just a picture."
I got to Borders early in my biddy fashion (because you never know when a train may be late!) and saw the man of the hour briefly chatting with Borders' employees at the front of the store before being ushered away from the hoi polloi. I saw that there was a table set up at the front of the store which was unlike the other events I've attended. "Oh sadness," I thought, "Is there no discussion and laughter?" I walked up to the "greeter/security guard" who was planted at the front of the store. His wan expression let me know he did not want to talk as he was very busy guarding a pile of Kitty Kelly's newest book of complete make-'em-ups, Oprah. (PS- the book is already 30% off. HAHAHAA! Take that, Kitty Kelly! Perhaps if you wrote for Scientology your fables would actually sell. Too soon?) Without making eye contact the greeter/security guard let me know that Chris would be signing books at the front of the store only. Aw, crud. Oh well, better than nothing, right?
After buying my book I met up with fellow Project Runway fan (stalker), Lauren, who I met at Laura Bennett's book signing a few weeks back. Lauren was also wearing a hoodie. (Ergo, we will obviously be friends forever.) We hung out waiting for 7pm to roll around and we got in line. Okay, we WERE the line at that point. Just us. Two ladies in hoodies desperately grasping our cameras. (PS - My look was complemented with a summer scarf in lime green and a dippy smile that even a 4-year-old would deem as "uncool.")
3 more people got in line behind us and Chris March was escorted to his table. Chris' disappointment was palpable. I can't blame him. I'd be sad too if I came out and saw me. At that point I wanted to run over an hug him and say: "Quality over quantity, Chris!" (But I didn't, no restraining orders today!)
Lauren got her picture taken first...
...and then me. (Thank GOODNESS my head looks normal in this. To better understand this reference, see my Tim Gunn post. from a month ago.. oy.)
...and then me. (Thank GOODNESS my head looks normal in this. To better understand this reference, see my Tim Gunn post. from a month ago.. oy.)
We chatted with Chris and he is truly as delightful in person as he was on TV. We talked about reality television and its "merits." I told him that I understood the ruse of reality as I worked for the "reality" show elimiDATE for 4 (horribly awful hideously long) years. He burst out, "ELIMIDATE?!" he gave me his condolences for having worked on that show. (Note: I'm still in therapy.) I also let him know how much I love his design aesthetic and that I love that he self-published his book. SELF- PUBLISHED, PEOPLE. This is not an easy feat. Nay. This means you do and finance everything yourself. Not a small task! He mentioned that he's blogging now, to which I said, "I know! Keep it up!"
At that point, another Chris March fan arrived, Laura Bennett!
Looking completely hip and casual in jeans and a Chanel jacket, Laura came by to support her fellow PR alum/author. (Sidenote: A Borders employee brought up some of Laura's books to the front table as the folks in line didn't know she had a signing just over a week ago. Somebody give that employee a raise!) She told Chris that her kids are big fans, to which Chris exclaimed, "Are they gay?" Laura shrugged, "One maybe."
More people started to show up for Chris (GOOD!) so Laura, Lauren and I huddled up and discussed the merits of Glee and why Finn can't sing. This conversation took at least 20 minutes as we all had a lot to say about this matter. A LOT.
Then Laura got to see a bit of my biddiness first hand much to my chagrin. I handed her a pen, but it was empty. "Empty" as in the ink thingy fell out and all that was left was a sad pink plastic shell. So I handed her another one. Also empty. Yep. You know you're a new old biddy when you carry empty pen corpses around with you in your purse next to your green tea mints. (And I'll have you know, the pen carcasses are still in my purse lest I find their insides floating around somewhere. Waste not want not!) Sigh.....
All in all, a great evening. I hope Chris had a good time despite a small turnout. And btw, I love Chris' book and so should you! It's a coffee table book with pictures from his costumes/designs over the years including Project Runway. (Meryl Streep's dresses are not in the book as I believe it went to print before those were debuted...) You can find I Heart Chris March here on his website. And DO check out his blog as well. Do it and support self-published authors!
PS - On my way home I had a random star sighting, the dad from Ugly Betty, Tony Plana. But to me, he'll always be Jefe from The Three Amigos. The jackass in me wanted to ask him if he knew what a plethora was yet, but again thought it best to avoid a restraining order and stay 0 for 2 for the evening....
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For other Project Runway related features,
read about how I met Tim Gunn & Laura Bennett!
And relive the silliness that Season 6 models
Kojii, Katie, Fatma and I had during Assignment: Jennifer!
