Remember back about a year ago, when I was all “I am so looooooonely here! I love my husband but I have no giiiiiiiirlfriends! Woe is meeeeeeee!”? Remember that?
Yeah, me neither. Lord, what a difference a year makes.
Yesterday I had a local signing for Sleep Is for the Weak, and I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Athens, but this is a town with many fine offerings in cuisine, music, cultural events, etc. In other words, many folks have better things to do with their Sunday afternoons than to pick up an anthology about parenthood and have it signed by one of the twenty-three contributing authors. I’m just sayin’. And yet, for an hour and a half there was a steady stream of folks—who bought almost all the available stock (I think there were three copies left, at the end)—because so many pretty, pretty friends of mine came out to show their support.
Did I mention how pretty they are?
(They are. Excrutiatingly beautiful, in fact. Every last one.)
Many fine local non-blogging folks came, and Leandra came and Niki came and Karen came and Kaye walked through the door with her camcorder on, so I didn’t even get to say hello to her before I was being asked for a memorable quote. (I think I said, “Please get your Flip out of my face.” But for some reason that didn’t end up in the movie.)
Oh, that’s right. THE MOVIE. If you weren’t able to make it out to the signing, NO WORRIES! Kaye made this little video and trust me, it’s JUST LIKE BEING THERE, except more musical:
[Isn’t Kaye adorable? She totally deserves tenure purely by virtue of her mad movie-making skillz and pretty hair. I hope the university is reading this. “We find, Dr. Sweetser, that you have met the requirements for publications, community involvement, teaching excellence, and also shiny, manageable hair. Congratulations!”]
Anyway, apparently if you have a cat you need to buy this book. Just a friendly FYI. (I am SO SMOOTH under pressure, y’all.)
After the signing I came home and changed into boring, casual clothing and then Chickadee and I went and did the week’s grocery shopping, because although I am a SUPER FANCY AUTHOR PERSON I still get excited over the Kashi Vive cereal being half off. Behold my humanity! Also, my cheapskateness!
We were driving home when Chickadee piped up—apropos of nothing at all—“You know, Mom, I think I have a lot more friends here than I ever did when we still lived in [town redacted because I’m a little bit paranoid].” I thought about this for a moment and then agreed with her that that was probably true. And after another moment I told her that I thought the same was probably true for me.
We rode the rest of the way in silence, each lost in our own thoughts about when home becomes “that place we used to live” and when “this new place” became home. I can’t speak for her, but for me it was a pretty thankful train of thought. This was, of course, prior to realizing that thanks to one of my friends, I was going to be appearing on YouTube asserting that cat-owners desperately need to buy my book, so, um, grain of salt and all that. (I’m kidding, Kaye! You’re pretty!)
And now my responsibilities in connection with the book have all been fulfilled, so I can stop talking about it endlessly. (Thanks for your patience, though.) We can get back to the things that really matter, now, like how so far my kids’ favorite thing to do with the Wii is throw bowling balls backwards into the crowd, or my upcoming gynecologist appointment. You know, meaningful stuff like that.
Also, don’t forget that you have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern TONIGHT to bid on a brand new Wii to benefit my kids’ school. I truly don’t expect the bidding to go any higher (I didn’t expect it to go as high as it already has!), but just in case you’re still aching to do something awesome, the possibility is there. Every dollar goes directly to the school. Bid early, bid often!
Was that Otto with the big fancy camera partway through?
Hooray for roots and settledness and the nice warm feeling of home. It’s so hard to be all nekkid and baby-bird-out-of-a-nestish – it’s lovely to hear that you’re THERE now.
This post just made me smile for you!
So that is what Mir sounds like! Great! That dress was beautiful! You looked wonderful. I have to say you look like a person with very deliberate handwriting. I can’t say I am surprised but I hope your hand isn’t aching today.
The dude walking around in the background. I wondered, is that Otto? Then I saw a big ass lense in his hand and I knew it was Otto. Was he photographing China from there?
I’m glad you had a successful day and I’m glad Georgia is home for you now. It seems the opportunities that are the scariest and the hardest to get through are always the ones that turn out the best.
You have stunning teeth.
Happy Happy! You looked pretty too! I have a dog, so I guess I need a copy of the book. And also, because I can read.
Love that Otto was there doing his Otto Camera Thing! :D When do we get to see THOSE pictures?
Oh hurrah. :)
We feel the same way, having moved halfway across the country just a year before you did. But then, you all are just naturally friendly!
Congrats! What a great way to round out a year in a new place. I love Otto hovering in the background the entire time. What a great hubby.
Two not-so-important thoughts:
1. I’ve been pronouncing Mir “Mur” (life fur), not “Mere”
2. I pictured Otto with a beard, and perhaps a cordouroy blazer with patches on the elbows.
Mir,
Love the new ‘do. It suits you perfectly!
I have a cat. Though your statement that cat owners should buy this book is suspect, I shall buy it anyway BECAUSE THAT IS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
In a completely innocent, nonstalker kind of way, of course.
I enjoyed seeing the bench upended and what appeared to be a youngster frolicking on the floor behind you.
Funny that you mention cats, because I just emailed someone a pic of my cat wearing a bra (I wish I was joking). Coin-ki-dink? I don’t think so!
Ok, thoughts, in order of appearance:
I love how Otto moved out of frame as soon as the video appeared. You can always tell the photographers in the room, because they’re usually more comfortable behind the lens (of the seriously big-ass camera he was using later in the video. Seriously, dude, I bet you can get pics of Mir’s spleen with that sucker!)
You looked lovely, your dress was very pretty, your teeth are, as All Adither said, stunning.
As a person who also has very deliberate handwriting, I feel for you if you have any hand pain after that. Hope Otto gave you a little massage after.
Welcome home!
Well, thank you for laying it all out so clearly. I am going to have to buy several books. I have two cats, I know many people who have children and I do not have any yet but have not ruled it out. SO. 10 copies oughtta do it.
Oh, and you look REALLY PRETTY in that video!
Can’t hear the video at work (stupid computer!) but the video doesn’t even begin to do justice to how fantastic you looked yesterday! And next time all of us are going to band together and demand that they put you in a spot conducive to doing a reading. We want Mir to read! We want Mir to read!
1. I want to meet Leandra and Niki. BOOHOOOOO!
2. I’ve been saying “Mir” wrong all this time, and I don’t know that I can fix it. I pronounce it like the end of the word, “awesomer,” so I’m think you may not mind.
I have cats AND I can read! (a big cat is on my lap right now while I am reading even)
Your hair – pretty
Your dress – pretty
I must have expected you to be left-handed, because I noticed you were a righty.
Welcome home, I knew you’d get there one day.
You’re such a good mom!!! :)
That is a mighty big pen you have there.
My children do the backwards bowling ball thing on the Wii too. And since they have created Mii-s of everyone in our family, the ball chucking is often accompanied by “Yay! I nearly hit Granny with my bowling ball!”
I wanna be on the A-list.
Is that the paparazzi stalking you in that video? It must be so hard to have the cameras constantly in your face. The high price of fame!
I have a cat. I have a dog. I can read. I even have “Sleep is for the Weak”. The only things missing: an insciption and the ability to pronounce Mir!
Congratulations on the book. You’re so pretty.
Best salesperson ever. You rock.
I was trying to think of giveaways to complement the book.. all I could come up with was coffee or melatonin. You know, just to appease both camps.
I love your dress! Also, did anyone else notice the date at the end of the movie says 2009? So, this is the future-Mir?
Dang! I read you and I thought “she’s pretty.” Then you posted a picture and I thought “yep, I was right – she’s pretty.”
But none of that does justice to the full-motion video and ACTUAL WORDS coming out of your mouth. Not only are you PRETTY, but you are also gracious. And smart. And just awesome.
After watching the video, I kinda had to let you know. You know? Thanks for sharing that.
I do declare, I may have detected a bit of a Southern twang creeping in to your voice! Home sweet home, indeed.
I laughed, I cried, I was sorry I already have a copy of the book and I can’t bring it to Mir to have it signed in person.
I was very impressed at how Kaye managed to film an event one year in the future. That alone makes her tenure-worthy, I think.
You look beautiful! Glad to hear you are finding your way there in GA.
What an awesome video and an awesome story! Yay! I’m so glad your signing went well – looks like everyone had a great time! So now my question: how do I go about getting a signed copy by uber-popular blogger Mir? (seriously – do people use the word uber down there?! Really?! It’s all “wicked” up here, not uber…)
This post makes me happy, Mir. It’s been two months since we moved from DC to Florida, and while my son has collected ten new friends (he wrote me a list, so I know the exact number) since he started school, I have made exactly zero friends. I don’t feel too awfully deprived — I have my husband, and some family down here, and yoga classes and the beach and cable TV — but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever make an actual friend. So you’ve just given me hope.
But… but… I don’t have to start going to PTA meetings, do I?
I own two cats, so I guess I’m on the hook for two copies.
I just wanted to tell say you sound as smart and pretty as you look…..and now I have lens envy..thanks Otto
You’re very pretty!
And now you are famous in my office.
But you don’t like cats.
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only goober who can’t pronounce Mir!
What a cool video! Now I want to see the pictures of Mir’s spleen!
I’m so bummed that I missed this!
Oh, and you look GORGEOUS, dahling.
You too are very pretty indeed. I am totally going to have to try that throwing the bowling balls into the crowd thing. I’m just so curious as to what happens now.
So I knew you were very pretty from your photos but now I am certain of it! I’m about a quarter of the way through the book (I read a post before I pass out at night), and I’m already thinking of various people who NEED this book.
Thank you Kaye for making a video so the rest of us could pretend we were there!!
And I think you’re going to have to change your tag line to include a pronunciation guide to your name.
Ah, just wait until they get into the boxing training and purposefully let themselves get hit with all the balls flying toward them. (The controller rumbles when you get hit.)
Mir (I’m happy to say I’ve been pronouncing it correctly!) the dress is gorgeous, your hair is gorgeous, and don’t you want to come to the NC coast for a book signing? PLEASE? Ok, what about if I buy one on Amazon and send it to you for signing?
I’m so glad that you’ve found your people. I had just started reading here when you posted about finding friends-they were some of the posts that kept me coming back. You look happy now, you sound happy now. Yea for Mir!
Isn’t it ridiculous that even though I *knew* what your nickname stood for I have still be pronouncing it wrong. Duh.
You looked fabulous, you sounded great, and we’re forever grateful to Kaye for a peek into the book signing for those of us too far too attend.
I remember reading about your wedding preparations as though it was yesterday, and here you are in your new home, and it truly has become home. I’m so happy for you! :)
Behold! The power of the printed page! Isn’t it amazing that you have a blog that hundreds of people read each day, you do freelance writing for other people and website, and you refer to yourself as a writer, yet it isn’t until you have your words in a physical book that people call you an AUTHOR! Congratulations!
On a slightly related, but humorous sidenote: I had ONE poem of mine published in a national magazine when I was in college. I wrote “Poet” on any form that asked for my occupation for YEARS after that! It’s a good thing I didn’t let it go to my head.
Where did you get that marvelous dress? Not that I’d look anywhere near as svelte and glamorous in it as you did, but envious minds want to know :-)
I’m so glad your signing went well — it’s actually fun to play supportive spouse at events like that, so I know Otto’s part there well. Except I don’t have any camera lenses ANYWHERE near as humongous as that one!
So does that mean you’re in Athens? I’m in Covington and we have a move to make towards Athens in the next year or so. So there are great signs of life out that way then? It’s so hard to tell what’s going out there right now. Covington isn’t permanent but I fell I long for a bookstore and coffee shop and more. Tell me all about the wondrous goings on out there. Where do I start???
Social awkardness, my foot. You’re gorgeous and funny and smart and talented AND a great mom, all in one package. Color me jealous. :-)
I need to buy your book! Because I have dogs! And I know how to read!
My youngest is 25, I’m thinking I still need the book!
You looked awesome in that video! Did I mention that my youngest is 25 and I can still read?
You’re pretty, your dress is very becoming, and My favorite part of Wii bowling is throwing the ball backwards.
well, shoot. we have a pet snake. snakes were not on the list. thankfully i can read, so i’ll be ordering mine from amazon now.
Mir, you looked really well. I absolutly LOVED the book. Good luck with the Wii auction.
Sooo pretty!
Jane, I noticed the 2009 thing too, but there have been a few times lately where I date things “2008” and it doesn’t feel quite right, so the video had me running to check my calendar. I’m such a doofus.
Lovely video! Aptly showcasing your witty personality and pretty face. But I already knew all that, so I feel special…like I’m on the inside track or something with a hotshot author.
Dude — That DRESS!!!! It is awesome. You should wear that all the time you look like a posy in it.
J
If I hadn’t of already purchased this wonderful book, your sales pitch would have made me run right out and get one!!
Wow – the dress, your hair and what a lovely voice you have – what wonderful things a person can do with a Flip. Thanks for sharing!
I have two cats. I think I need that book. Also I’m pregnant, which means I REALLY need that book.
What if I also really love sleep? Will the book teach me out to survive on no sleep? Cause that would be awesome.
You are so darned cute Mir. I love the video. And since I have a dog and a cat and 20 some nurses who badger me 24/7, I most certainly need this book.
Lovely video and OMG you look fantastic in that dress–not that you don’t look fantastic any other time–and can I please borrow it so I can appear as svelte as you? And, no, I don’t think that is too internet stalkerishy to ask (that is too a word!) And I love your voice–you sound just like I imagined you would. Well I did see you on tv that one time, but this video–so much better! (Thank you, Dr. Kaye Sweetser!)Is this more of the everyday Mir that your lucky local friends get to see than that poorly edited version we saw on national tv?
What a delightful video! Congratulations on your book signing and many sales. Way to go!
Oh dear, I’m on the hook for about several million billion copies. XD
I know lots of parents (6 books there), I own cats (4 more copies, one for each kitty), and am contemplating future parenthood (1 more). Oh, and I can read! 12 copies it is! Hoorah.
Your dress looks fabulous and you looked fabulous. Go Mir!
BTW was Otto trying to take pictures of your insides? That is an absolutely huge lens (that probably takes pictures whose beauty I weep in awe over). I, too, have been afflicted with the deadly Lens Envy. Way to go Otto!