pre-show rituals

He's in the space and into his pre-appearance(1) rituals (even he admits that's what they are). Usually he goes to bed early the night before, rises early and goes out shopping someplace random, early...in case something he sees strikes his fancy.

He then takes a nap, grooms and assembles his materials (usually superfluous, as he always puts everything he's going to need into his leather gym bag(2) several days in advance).

He will pick the jacket(3) he's going to wear just before leaving, and will time his arrival at the site to be one hour before the event. He will not discuss the reading or appearance during the morning leading up to it, with anyone, and will have a short fuse until the actual start of the reading...then, he's Mister Intensely Smooth.

I know there is a young lady he is hoping shows up for the signing...but he's keeping me walled off from that. Bastard.

Footnotes:

(1) Today, April 22nd, 2006. 2pm-4pm reading and book signing, Barnes and Noble, Morgantown, West Virginia.

(2) It's a piece of crap...it has been abused to death over the aeons. I think he told me he found it at an old k_Mart years ago...the handle ripped while transporting a full load of books to a reading where the bookstore didn't order books in time, so he had to supply them.

(3) Usually he chooses between a black, nondexript cloth jacket and a thrift shop 60's style dress jacket, both black. There have been reports of him wearing a racing team jacket to some signings, and I am aware of a black silk "dragon" jacket he eceived last year from China. What will he wear? You're asking me?