From: dahoov2@cox.net   
      
   Went there Saturday.  It's getting worse there.  The first year I went   
   (2005) I ended up with 7-8 sigs and had probably opportunity to get a   
   couple more had I have known where to go and what to do better.  Every   
   year since then, it's gotten worse as far as crowds and authors... the   
   authors are getting more strict.  Originally, the first couple years   
   they'd sign what you brought from home, or basically anything (except   
   sports items, guitars or objects like that... but I mean books,   
   brochures, bookplates, posters, paper items and such).  Now almost all   
   of them have strict restrictions.  Most will only signed NEW books.   
   Most will only sign one or two.  Personalization is hit or miss.   
   Sometimes they INSIST (like Dionne Warwick this year) or other times   
   they refuse altogether because no time.   
      
   It was bad this year too because Laura and Jenna Bush showed up last   
   minute to sign (I guess they were on the list but the last two days or   
   so before the event, I never checked the website, because they never   
   add anything that late).  Anyway, she just got there when I did and   
   started signing.  There was no time to get anything signed as the   
   lines were longer than the hour she'd be there.  So I missed her yet   
   again.  Neil Gaiman's line was probably one of the longest if not THE   
   longest yet again (I don't get it).   
      
   I also could not get Tiki Barber or Matthew Reinhardt.  By the time I   
   got done with the first person (who had FIVE lines long) they'd cut   
   her line off and Matthew, who wouldn't sign for two - three hours,   
   already had a massive line; several lines in fact; about a block long.   
   The fact is, I was in the first line for the first person I got (at   
   the end) and they cut it off 8 people from the end of the first line.   
   We complained... come on, 8 people?  that takes a minute.  Anyway,   
   they took us (I was the last one and got lucky).  Then I had people   
   standing for me in Salmon Rushdie's line (who by the way didn't have   
   nearly as long lines as others).  I did manage that but they got it   
   for me as I had to wait in Dionne Warwick's line.  So I only got three   
   graphs.  And gee, it only cost me about 750 bucks for the weekend!   
   Geez... but we go to see my son and also for sightseeing as well.  The   
   hotel prices are insane.  We got a deep discount.  When we got into   
   the room, there was a sign on the door in the back that said   
   "reminder, this is a 500.00 a night room!".  Thank God, it only cost   
   us 140 (but stellar with kitchen etc and all higher end decor). So if   
   you go beware.  Gas was expensive too.  3.54 here and 3.76 there. it   
   cost about 50 bucks to fill the tank each way (and we have a small   
   mustang).   
      
   Anyway, sorry for anyone who wanted Bob Lanier or Tiki; there was just   
   no time to get them.  Besides, all they'd sign is their books.  No   
   sports items or index cards, so no sense trying.   
      
   Rushdie signed only his last two new books, Dionne Warwick only her   
   new kid's book- but she would sign up to three of them and insisted to   
   personalize, and Jan Brett signed one book OR the poster but didn't   
   dedicate.   
      
   That's all... we also did Embassy hunting again.  My collection is   
   60-70% complete I think.  Photos will be on the site later in the   
   week.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)