On Meeting Neil Gaiman

Last night, perhaps, is another one of those nights that will be forever etched in my memory, and in a good way. I dragged the Cheese to Rockwell Powerplant Mall (though I know very well that he has work later that night and he hasn't slept a wink yet) to watch the 3rd Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards where Neil Gaiman himself will grace the stage and hand the awards to all the winners.

When I decided to go to Rockwell, I was somehow content with the thought of just seeing Mr. Neil Gaiman himself even from afar. But then when he said that Fully Booked will choose 100 lucky individuals for free book signing after the awards show via electronic raffle, of course a sudden surge of hope enveloped me. I can have a chance. Just register at the entrance and pray with all our might that our name be called.

My name was never called. But the Cheese's name was. Lucky number 36. And I SUPER thank the Lord for that. Of course the Cheese gave the number passes to me after claiming it.

I was sooo nervous, excited, happy and scared all at the same time as the line to Mr. Gaiman's table got shorter and shorter. All around us hundreds of fans were milling around, looking and sometimes begging for some random person whom they can give their books/comics for Neil to sign to and I am happy to report that there was no shortage of kind people that night.

Most of my other Gaiman books were on loan so I only have Good Omens with but at the last moment, since I believed that there will be no other chance quite like this in the near future, I shelled out what little money I had that night to buy the comics version of Neverwhere.

I was amazed that when my turn finally came, I didn't buckle nor melted on the floor like what I've been imagining all throughout the line. I actually made a small conversation with Neil and had the courage and boldness to ask him to hug me because I know that if I don't I can never forgive myself for being a wimp. Ha!

My I-can't-believe'I'm-hugging-Neil-Gaiman moment.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you dear Lord for granting a chance, thank you to the Cheese for coming with me to that event, thank you Mr. Neil Gaiman for coming back, for accommodating all your fans, for being terribly and genuinely nice and pleasant and for reading those poems to us last night. You're right, we owe it to each other to tell stories.

FULLY BOOKED IS LOVE...or not

Since nung madiscover namin to nila Honey at Che-Che sa newly-built-for-richy/feeling-rich-people-of-Quezon-City(and adjacent places) na The Block (SM North Edsa), ay hindi na ko naka-get-over. tama bang parang ganun ang maging reaction. although this is the first "fully booked" chain that i've been, wala na, panalo na talaga. iba pa rin ang feeling na nakukuha ko when i'm around books, much different when you're around with your crush. medyo nakakahilo at masakit sa heart na realization once na na-overcome na ang amazement. ang ganda kasi ng pagkakaayos e san ka pa! alphabetically arranged ang mga fiction and non-fiction books. mas maganda kesa powerbooks ng shang-ri la! Nga lang syempre, it costs a lot..especially for me na Booksale items person na eversince.

Kaya lang, since may nadiskubre na nga ang mga katulad kong bookies na bagong haven, meron namang bagong kalaban ang management ng bookstore na yun ngayon. e di kami! tayo! nung 2nd time na bumalik ako dun (after a grueling 109 exam) medyo nakatatlong oras kami ni kimi dun! Okay pa ang lahat. konti lang din naman kasi ang tao, pumwesto lang kami sa may carpet along almost every children's books, fairytales, etc..Basa basa ng comics series tulad ng Baby Blues (tawa lang kami ng tawa), Garfield, Dr. Seuss, tsaka yung pambatang novel ni Neil Gaiman. after nun e umalis kami pero bumalik din naman para magbasa ulit (hanlameg kasi naman!) at ayun na. sabi ni Kimi tinititigan na daw kami ng mga staff dun at pabalik-balik na kaming iniikutan. haha! kahit nahihiya ako di ko tinitingnan yung mga mama. Yaan mo nang si kimimay na lang ang makipagtinginan din sa kanila dahil wala namang pakialam yun at di mahihiya yun. :)

all in all, nakapag-stay pa kami ng another two hours dun kahit na ansama na nga ng mga tingin nila samin. bonus pa dahil nakakita din kami ng mga fellow UP studes na ikot din ng ikot. bunch of guys who are obnoxiously loud (kung di ko lang kilala yung isa dun talagang maaasar ka sa kanila) pero wag ka, nagkasundo kaming lima na masyado ngang masama na ang tingin ng mga staff saming lahat pero keber.

oh well, medyo matagal na din yun. as of now di pa rin ako nakakabalik ulit. baka kasi mamya may warning notice na sa labas ng store na bawal na kong papasukin in the future! haha. hello?? pangalawang araw pa lang yun. humanda sila sa mga susunod (kung meron man). buti ang NBS katips kahit bulok na mga upuan hindi nila ipinagkakait ang public reading.