Running on Fumes!

Man, oh man. Yesterday I was able to tape a short segment at KARE tv in Minneapolis, a 5 minute piece on a morning show called "Showcase Minnesota". It went well, but was very assembly line oriented, perfect for the ADD viewer. I shared time with Jodie Foster (via tape), some circus performers, baby farm animals, Ms. Senior Minnesota and a couple cast members from "High School Musical". In the afternoon, I talked to a classroom of nursing students at the College of St. Catherine.

Today, I taped a segment for "All Things Considered" at the MPR studios. I think it was local, but it may get picked up for the national show sometime. Perhaps. I just heard it on the radio and it came off pretty good; I didn't sound too boring or clueless.

My favorite one was this afternoon, talking live with Lori and Brian at FM107.1 with the "Drivetime Divas" show (Brian isn't one of the divas, but was sitting in for one). The conversation was really engaging, friendly and both announcers really worked to put me at ease. We had a great conversation, about 15 minutes long.

I just got an e-mail and talked to a person from the local public tv station who wants a short interview before I leave town. This basically leaves tomorrow morning, before I head to the airport. She's willing to pick me up here at the hotel at about 7:00 am, tape a quick 10 minute piece, then jet me to the airport. I really didn't want to schedule it, but I suppose that's what I'm supposed to do if I can, so be it.

In about an hour and a half, I'm off to my last reading here before heading to Duluth, then I need to talk over the phone with a Duluth reporter. I can't wait to get back to work on Monday so I can relax....

Dodging Stars

So I'd gotten notice from my publicist that I was to be scheduled on a program called "Showcase Minnesota" in Minneapolis to discuss my book this coming Tuesday. That in and of itself is exciting for all the right reasons. The added bonus, was that I was to be sharing time with Aaron Eckhart, the dashing star of "Thank You for Smoking", and new film called "Bill" and the upcoming "Dark Knight". Added to the bonus, today I looked at the show's site and saw that as well as Mr. Eckhart, George Clooney and Rene Zelleweger were also appearing. I nearly fell out of my seat. Beside the whole starstruck, whiplash reaction, I'm completely in awe of Mr. Clooney as a social activist and would have loved to have shared a few like-minded thoughts on his work related to Darfur (not to say that I'd have even had the opportunity). Alas--as I had feared--I'd been bumped, from Tuesday to Wednesday. Man. Opportunity to meet a person you truly admire, that one person that you only dream that one day you'll shake his hand, yanked away like a prize you never really won. The plus side: If I DO appear on Wednesday as planned, I'll be sharing the time with Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, so that could also be very cool. And it's probably better all around since I may have been a complete mess knowing that I was in the same building as George.