Three famous people sightings! (sort of)

You will not believe who I met today....

R.L. Stein!

I wish I could say that it was coincidental or even serendipitous (i.e. if I were about to be possessed by an evil mask like in book 11 and Stein came in the nick of time to save me), but it wasn't. Today I went to the National Book Festival at the DC Mall! There were about 70 authors there giving presentations and book signings in tents divided up by genre. Other than Laura Bush (who I missed), R.L. Stein was the only author I had heard of before. And, like 99% of my sixth grade class, I've also read about a billion of his books. Although I wanted him to sign a book for me, I was running late and didn't want to stop at the sales tent. It's a good thing I didn't, because I was literally in the last group of 10 or so to get his autograph before he had to leave. Could my spot have been better used by one of the hundred or so disappointed kids behind me in line, clutching their copies of The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena? Sure. Maybe next time they'll get there sooner.



After the signing I went over to the Capitol Building, which I hadn't been up close to before. It was there that I thought I was about to see another famous person. A hummer limousine pulled up about ten feet away from me and immediately there were a few photographers crowding the door. I pretty much joined them, figuring that I had as much right as they did to sell my pics to the tabloids. Unfortunately, the doorman was very frustrated with the photographers (I quickly stepped back, disassociating myself from the group and pretending to fiddle with my umbrella), and the occupants were refusing to come out. Eventually the car left, but not before I got a glimpse of the people inside. They were teenaged girls in prom dresses and tiaras! While I told myself that perhaps I had just seen the princesses of some tiny island country who were confused about where the back entrance is (in support of this theory, the doorman was carrying a large shield-looking thing as if he were prepared for the paparazzi), it's more likely that I got excited over some girl's sweet sixteen. Darn! I then turned my camera to the Capitol to see if I could zoom in enough to tell if that was Senator McCain on the balcony, perhaps getting some fresh air on a break from an afternoon of grueling bipartisan economic talks. Now that was just wishful thinking. Besides, one famous person is enough for one day!