New York State of Mind

It's been alternately drizzling and drenching here in New York which makes it pretty miserable to be out walking around, especially given how hot it's been the past few days. After three days of walking the floor of the Javits Convention Center, schlepping books all over creation, going to two Broadway plays, and barely missing one terrorist event, Jackie and I are back in the hotel. We're kicking back, watching the New Hampshire Democratic debate unfold and waiting for the final episode of "The Sopranos."

I'll tell you one thing about the Book Expo. If Americans are supposed to be losing their taste for reading, you sure can't tell it here. Someone is reading all these books, there are thousands and thousands of new titles on display, and if I start tonight to read just what I'm taking home, I won't be done until Christmas. And, yes, I did get an autographed copy of Dr. Ruth's Sex for Dummies.

Saw a musical comedy and a great play here on Broadway. First up was Spamalot which I went into with low expectations, but came out with a big smile on my face. It just perfectly fit the mood I was in. My friends Scott and Andie had told me how much they enjoyed it and I'm glad we took their recommendation.

This afternoon we scored tickets to Inherit the Wind with Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. I really enjoyed it but, given the spectacle we expect from Broadway, this felt like a high school play (it's performed everywhere) with great actors. I thought both Plummer and Dennehy were excellent as the Old Lions and worth the price of admission but the supporting cast had a few that could have been on a high school stage and nobody would have blinked. 

"If we could just agree that God used evolution to get the job done, then we could get out of this damnably hot courtroom and grab a cold beer."

Tomorrow we're doing meetings during the day on various projects, then eating with friends. Almost time to go home. I know we're over the weight limit with books, still have to figure that part out.