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The Pioneer Woman book signing at the Mall of America (MOA), Nordstrom Court.

I wanted to get to MOA by 11:30 but I thought the crowd won’t be that bad. So I slept in.  I thought I can go an hour later since PW signing starts at 1. Wow, holy molly, when I got there at 12:30, the crowd was crazy. There were so many people, a few hundred I would say. People mountain, people sea. There was a booth selling her cookbooks, I grabbed one, finally holding one in my hands.

And I went hunting for my friend. She got here at around 12:50-ish and we stood on line, all the way to the corner away from the make shift stage. My friend and I were standing there could not see a thing at the front. The stage is a little farther where the red banner is.

There were so many lines I don’t even know where the line starts initially. I saw a line starting at the book stand and another behind it. Then the another line where my friend and I were at snake around the middle and behind the stage and then into the maze.

The maze and the side table next to the bookstand (see the cash register?)

The stage. The line looks very close to the stage, very close but very far.

The line at the back of the stage.

And this is where we stood, can’t hear or see anything that is happening at the stage.

And finally, Ree, the Pioneer Woman showed up, a little after 1. Yeh!!! The crowd cheered, I walked over to the stage. My friend was holding my spot. Thank goodness I have a friend there, if not I have to ask the person behind me to hold it for me. Thank you, my friend, I really appreciate the time you had to spend with me that day! Ree said she did not expect such a crowd, that was the first thing she said.

Here is a little video. I didn’t stand there to record the whole time she was talking coz there were too many distractions from the little girl, the person next to me, and the cameraman was walking back and forth the stage. Plus I’m too short!!!!! Big time disadvantage for me. Apparently there is a filming of the PW, I think, which will be aired on TV(?) that’s what I over heard, that’s the reason for the cameraman and the big-ass microphone thing up in the air.

I went back and joined my friend, we chatted to catch up. So much to catch up so it was good but the line wasn’t even moving….well, it did, inching very very slowly. Any opportunity to sit, grab it, it felt so good to sit for just a few minutes. . I believe the folks who are at the front of the stage have been there since the mall open doors. For us folks at the back were the late comers.

Once we inched our way closer to where the stage is, I was a happy but dying of hunger.

I thought this signing would take about an hour or two then my friend and I will have our lunch and do a little window shopping. Hah, not a chance!

At this point, I was ready to give up. I was closer to the stage but still need to go round the stage and through the maze. It was already 3 when I took this picture. We have been standing on line for 2 hours. My friend said no, I shouldn’t give up. We have already waited that long, keep going.

Each person who present the book for PW’s autograph spent a few minutes with her, at least coz some of them not just have one book but a couple to six or a bagful of books for her autograph. Then of course picture time with her.  The ones with a load of books for her autograph must be those for gifts or giveaways.

Once I got the side of the stage, I was about to faint, just exaggerating, but I am not kidding.  My head and eyes were hurting so bad.  Again I wanted to give up and thought should just go for some food and come back and the line won’t be that long. My friend said what if the line is still long, and we will be at the end of the line….back to square one. So with my friend’s encouragement, I hung on.

And we stood and chatted with each other and the people in front and back of us, made the corner of the stage and to the other side of the stage, and then I saw this:

Marlboro Man and their two boys. Looks like he has became a celeb too! A lot of folks had his autograph the famous picture of his chaps.  The two boys are super duper cute.

I went a long and had him autograph my copy too. I need to scan or take a picture of the page and put it up here. I have not done it yet, spaced it out. I now regretted I didnt get a picture with him. Darn!!!!

After I had MM’s autograph, I was in line joining the maze. Very close yet so far. It was already 5:20 when we finally got into the start of the maze. Since my friend was taller she counted how many more loops before we will reach the front of the stage – 7 loops!!!! Again i wanted to quit and she said NO!!!!

Bubba Gump mascot was out there entertaining us too, that helps! I felt like my head was being run over by a semi, assuming from lack of caffeine and food. When I took this picture we were about 3 more loops towards the stage.  Also there were a lot of people who walk by asking what are we standing on line for.  We have to tell them about “The Pioneer Woman, a blogger, started a blog in 2006 and now has a cookbook”…..bla bla bla. Some even asked is it Sarah Palin!  Funny.  We thought Sarah Palin might not hold a book signing event in a mall!  Too risky, don’t you think? Btw, the BG mascot so happened to walk by and every one standing on line took a picture of this idiotic looking “shrimp” which looks more like a lobster or some sort of weird creature.

(Honestly there were a lot more people behind us left once it hit 5:30-ish. The line was much much shorter. I am guessing they left for dinner and come back after or had to just leave because of commitments.?

Then two more loops. The girls in front of the table are the organizing folks from B&N and MOA, I think. They help take pictures with our cameras and one of them will take the book, flip the page to where Ree will sign and will place it at Ree’s when the guest sits next to her.

I was close enough now that I can even take a picture of her canggih camera (Canon). Just half a loop and I will be at the front and it was already 6 pm. Been standing online for 5 hours. By then my friend gave up standing, she sat by the benches around us. There were some women who took off their boots too. I wanted to but I persevered.

And this was how close I was with a little zoom, of course.

Close, just right after this lady, it was my turn. I was up on the stage just waiting for my turn. Nervous now. Could feel my hot ears!!!

There, my turn. I was so burned out, head was about to explode from the pounding headache. You can see my eyes, there were hurting so bad I could hard keep them open. I forgot to shut off the flash on the camera before I handed the camera to the girl….and PW’s preaching went down the drain for me that day…don’t use flash!! But every one there uses flash, guess I am not the only one then!

Ree was so funny, very pretty in person. She apologized to me for having to wait so long, but honestly, once I got up there, all thoughts of headache and waiting were gone! Told her it was nice to finally meet her.  It was so worth it. She asked where I was from, and said I have a very nice accent! Before I got up she reminded me to pick up a t-shirt on my way out. I spent about 1 minute plus or two with her, very quick but it was lovely. My very first time attending a book signing.

This is the t-shirt I picked up. The front…

…and the bottom back.

After the signing, my friend and I went for dinner at Tony Romas. I didn’t get home till 8:30-ish. The boys were all over me….3.5 hours behind for their dinner. I really enjoyed the meeting with The Pioneer Woman. It was fabulous getting to chat with MM too!  And again, a big thank you to my wonderful friend who stood by me and giving me the encouragement!  Thank you, my friend!