Three questions

First of all, did you notice that I put a search function in here? Did you notice? It's below the fold, on the left. My margins are getting a little too chock full of stuff, I know. If I had any design know-how in any way I would fix all of this, I really would. I would design the crap out of this site. Instead I just tootle along with my Typepad templates, hoping no one notices what a mess this is all is.

Secondly, have you been reading Wonderland? Because last Friday I wrote about Henry's eccentric food habits, and I've been too scared to go back and read the comments. In my imagination, my Wonderland readers have all joined against me and taken over the site to discuss what can be done about my poor mothering skills. So why don't you see what's up over there, make sure it's safe for me to return.

Finally! Are you aware that I am going to be in Brooklyn this Friday, signing copies of Sleep is for the Weak? Did you have any idea? And do you know that this means you can meet me, in person? I mean, you won't know it's me, of course, because due to my overwhelming social anxiety I have to wear an oversized papier-maché Dumbo head. I also hire other people to wear copies of the head, to serve as decoys. It's pretty confusing. Just be glad I don't wear the rest of the costume anymore. Progress!

As I was saying. The signing is at 5 p.m., at the Tea Lounge , 837 Union Street, in Park Slope. (Coincidentally, my second post ever written, back when I thought this site would only be read by my husband, was about the Tea Lounge.) I will be signing with my esteemed peers Rita Arens, Liz Gumbinner, Joanna Polyn, Doug French, Karen of Cheek, AND Stacy Morrison. That's a lot of talent in one room. You can purchase your copy of Sleep is for the Weak right there, too, so you don't even have to bring a copy with you! How could you not come? You couldn't. Not come. So come. Good. Thank you.

Comments

[MotherhoodTheUltimateSurvivor]

If not for the fact that I live in Canada, I would be there with bells on.

I hope Henry had a good first day at kindergarten and that you managed to get through it too!

[Michelle]

You know, I should come since I live in Manhattan. But Friday I'll be busy at orientation learning how to teach elementary school children to read better.

And that is not even a joke!

[HeyJoe]

Dearest Alice,

I’d love to come.

Ashamed for taking the easy joke,Joe

[Anonymous New York]

Why, I would love to! And, as my moniker implies, I live in New York. However, I'm a lawyer (similarly be-mottoed) and they don't unchain me from my desk until way past 5 o'clock. I will rattle my chains and rap my tin cup against the window bars for you in Manhattan around 5.

I have often prefered a grey goose to a grey pachyderm to help with the anxiety. Cheers!

[Kristine]

Yet another reason I need to move to NYC - all the book signings.

[NotFace]

You know, I think I'll come --it's only round the corner and I can pass it off as a trip to Uncle Louie G's with the boys. In your face, functional agoraphobia!

[Natasha]

I second what Kristine said: Reason #23 for moving to New York is all the book signings.

I meant to tell you in a past comment or email that you don't HAVE to stretch watercolour paper. You can get it in a big block that has the paper bound on all four sides with this rubbery substance. Then, you paint directly on the pad. When it's dry, you get a knife and slice into the groove under that piece of paper and pop it up. It's expensive but worth it.

Secondly, I just happened to notice that you and I are both following Garrison Keillor. And guess what: He's following me! I have no idea how that happened and I'm not really BRAGGING, just sharing my excitement. My husband and I so desperately would like to see PHC live. We've been listening for about 13 years. And we're Canadian, so that's kind of remarkable.

Also, you look so cute/pretty in your photo.

N.

[Natasha]

I meant to say that was on Twitter, of course.

[sarah]

woah! your husband reads your blog? my is such a shit sometimes!

i wish i lived anywhere near brooklyn. good luck!

[Mauigirl]

Have a wonderful book signing! Congratulations!

As for the picky eating, you have nothing to worry about. I was the world's pickiest eater when I was young, up until about age 20 or 21. Then I gradually got broad-minded and now there is practically nothing I won't eat (and it shows!). Henry will be fine.

[Yoshi]

I want to come to your book signing! I told my husband that we should go (we used to live in Millburn (now we're in the UES), so everytime he asks who you are, I say, "ALICE. Finslippy! The one in Maplewood!" and he says, "OHHHH."), so I might be able to talk him into coming out with me.

I can buy your book on my Kindle! But then I'd have to have you sign my Kindle, and I feel like that might be weird.

[Kmommy]

You are so not alone on the eating issue. Of course, my husband is the worst critic about D's not eating... seriously, I *have* tried forcing him to eat, it just does not work. You cannot force a child to eat. All you can do is put food in front of him and hope that some day he takes a bite :)

[Mom101]

Can't wait to see you there. And Rita. And Doug. And everyone. Even your Williamsburg reader who just might even find her way to a cab!

[janny226]

I got a little tired of reading about the first 20 people on Wonderland comments who all said, "My child is picky but at least he/she eats fruit." Dammit, DuckyBoy doesn't eat fruit. Then I found someone who sounded just like me down in the 80s and I felt better. And anyway my friend pointed out that I hardly ever eat fruit either so, really, I only worry because What To Expect The First year drilled the fruit thing into my head. Damn perky writers.

[BOSSY]

Bossy would take a train to Brooklyn, but she believes Sleep is for the Weak. The weak-- and those who stay home catching up on their sleep, so she's going to try the latter.

[schmutzie]

You are being featured on Five Star Friday:http://www.fivestarfriday.com/2008/09/five-star-friday-edition-23.html

[Dawn]

I cannot possibly attend due to my overwhelming aviophobia coupled with my crippling fear of elephant costume heads.

You couldn't be persuaded to wear the body of the costume and leave the head at home could you?

I thought not. *sigh*

Have a wonderful book signing!

[Cindy]

I found my way to you through your fellow bloggers recently; lurking around picking up dish on the Blogher conference, putting faces to blogs, following respective photo sets, etc... Then you stopped? Glad you're on and thanks for the inspiring piece about writing and the video, not to mention the squirrel deal. Beautiful. You're great...among greats. Aren't you awed by the writing? I am. It isn't my talent or my gift. I'm so glad for all of you. I'm glad you have this outlet- the whole world. So digging it.

[Stephanie]

It's rare times like this that I wish I still lived in the States!! All of my favourite bloggers are there, and I had to go and move across the Pond.

I'm so jealous of Brooklyn now. :)

[Kathy]

I want to share my husband's experience. As a boy he would eat only one thing: grilled cheese sandwiches. His mother fretted and worried and the pediatrician told her to let it go, he wasn't losing weight.

Eventually, although she really didn't do anything other than give him the sandwich while the rest of the family ate something else, he did outgrow it. He is now a cyclist and eats absolutely everything.

My family, on the other hand, hounded me about what I would and wouldn't eat. They still do, though I'm 40! And now I have food issues.

Buy some Flintstones if you're concerned about vitamins, but, seriously, there are better fights to fight than the food issue. He's eating, he's happy, he's healthy. Hey, he's adorable! So, seriously, I wouldn't worry about it. I know as a parent that it's hard not to worry about it but I'm sure you can find some other thing to worry about...lol...parents always do. But the food thing...as long as what he's eating it healthy, don't make too big a deal about it.

[beth]

i don't know if you read all your comments....but waaaah!! your links aren't working! i use your site to connect to all the other ones, but for the past week or two all your links claim is to be "loading", and they never load. i don't know if you can do anything about it, or even if you were aware of it.