Day 9 – Battle Creek, pt. 2

Shame on you, Tony Tiger. Shame.

I consumed cubic tons of sugared, artificially-colored cereal as a kid. I gobbled bowl after bowl while staring at Saturday morning cartoons, a slave to the commercials, a cult follower of Fat Albert, The Archies, and Batman. I slurped my milk in the bottom of the bowl when it was petunia pink, bile green, and that blue that always tasted like freshly-washed sidewalk.

And you wouldn’t let me in.

My hotel in Battle Creek is one block away from Cereal City, USA. I planned to use my break today to discover the fruit of my childhood food, to stroll the simulated Cereal Production Line, to squeeze Kellogg’s themed merchandise. I walked there all a-quiver, my body ready for a sugar cereal buzz. I was feeling grrrrreat.

Your doors were locked. Only open on the weekends in March. The cruelest month.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com So close, yet so far.

I’m disappointed, Tony. And you wonder why I defected to oatmeal.

In other news, the kids at the middle school were fun, and we had a nice crowd at the library tonight. Tomorrow I have to rent a car and drive a bunch of places (no public appearances), winding up in Kalamazoo for what should be a raucous evening with some librarians and teachers in Kalamazoo.

57 Replies to “Day 9 – Battle Creek, pt. 2”

  1. Any plans on coming to Virginia/DC area? (I live here..)

    you’re one of my favorite authors, and most inspiring. Speak helped me realize that I was truly depressed.. and I’ve read almost all of your books.

    Angie

  2. Any plans on coming to Virginia/DC area? (I live here..)

    you’re one of my favorite authors, and most inspiring. Speak helped me realize that I was truly depressed.. and I’ve read almost all of your books.

    Angie

  3. Any plans on coming to Virginia/DC area? (I live here..)

    you’re one of my favorite authors, and most inspiring. Speak helped me realize that I was truly depressed.. and I’ve read almost all of your books.

    Angie

  4. Thanks!

    Thanks so much for tonight, Laurie. This is Anna, and I had been looking forward to seeing you for so long. Speak has meant so much to me and really given me a way to cope with my own emotions. You inspired me so much, and you really gave me a lot of hope for the future. You made me feel so very understood.
    I hope that when I act this out, it does you justice.
    <3
    anna

  5. Thanks!

    Thanks so much for tonight, Laurie. This is Anna, and I had been looking forward to seeing you for so long. Speak has meant so much to me and really given me a way to cope with my own emotions. You inspired me so much, and you really gave me a lot of hope for the future. You made me feel so very understood.
    I hope that when I act this out, it does you justice.
    <3
    anna

  6. Thanks!

    Thanks so much for tonight, Laurie. This is Anna, and I had been looking forward to seeing you for so long. Speak has meant so much to me and really given me a way to cope with my own emotions. You inspired me so much, and you really gave me a lot of hope for the future. You made me feel so very understood.
    I hope that when I act this out, it does you justice.
    <3
    anna

  7. LAURIE ANDERSON being my favorite and only author im not much of a reader but your books are just so good.And i cant wait for me to read prom catalyst was my fav book is it a movie or will it become one?

  8. LAURIE ANDERSON being my favorite and only author im not much of a reader but your books are just so good.And i cant wait for me to read prom catalyst was my fav book is it a movie or will it become one?

  9. LAURIE ANDERSON being my favorite and only author im not much of a reader but your books are just so good.And i cant wait for me to read prom catalyst was my fav book is it a movie or will it become one?

  10. Hahahaha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve read all day. Not that you couldn’t get in, but just the entry. Nice to see all the travelling hasn’t dulled your wit. (Though, really, who would have thought the author of Speak could write something funny? 😉 )

    In other news, I was in a Borders last night, and you’re faced out AND on the end of the A-frame. (Even though their juv section was fershknickt.) And in indie land, we’ve got that lurvely dump up! Yay promotion!

  11. Hahahaha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve read all day. Not that you couldn’t get in, but just the entry. Nice to see all the travelling hasn’t dulled your wit. (Though, really, who would have thought the author of Speak could write something funny? 😉 )

    In other news, I was in a Borders last night, and you’re faced out AND on the end of the A-frame. (Even though their juv section was fershknickt.) And in indie land, we’ve got that lurvely dump up! Yay promotion!

  12. Hahahaha, that’s the funniest thing I’ve read all day. Not that you couldn’t get in, but just the entry. Nice to see all the travelling hasn’t dulled your wit. (Though, really, who would have thought the author of Speak could write something funny? 😉 )

    In other news, I was in a Borders last night, and you’re faced out AND on the end of the A-frame. (Even though their juv section was fershknickt.) And in indie land, we’ve got that lurvely dump up! Yay promotion!

  13. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but there’s a chance I’ll be in your area around October 20th. Keep checking the schedule on my website for updates. I’m glad the book helped. I’ve struggled with depression as have a couple people I love more than anything. It’s hell. I really hope you got the help you need. Congrats on being strong and brave!

  14. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but there’s a chance I’ll be in your area around October 20th. Keep checking the schedule on my website for updates. I’m glad the book helped. I’ve struggled with depression as have a couple people I love more than anything. It’s hell. I really hope you got the help you need. Congrats on being strong and brave!

  15. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but there’s a chance I’ll be in your area around October 20th. Keep checking the schedule on my website for updates. I’m glad the book helped. I’ve struggled with depression as have a couple people I love more than anything. It’s hell. I really hope you got the help you need. Congrats on being strong and brave!

  16. What???? You’ve never tasted sidewalk???

    *sigh* Your generation is so deprived, I swear.

    Why don’t you and Mer and whoever work out something with your English teachers? You know where to find me!

  17. What???? You’ve never tasted sidewalk???

    *sigh* Your generation is so deprived, I swear.

    Why don’t you and Mer and whoever work out something with your English teachers? You know where to find me!

  18. What???? You’ve never tasted sidewalk???

    *sigh* Your generation is so deprived, I swear.

    Why don’t you and Mer and whoever work out something with your English teachers? You know where to find me!

  19. CATALYST has been optioned for a movie. That means a group of people are trying to put together the money, cast, crew, etc. Lots of books are optioned, few are actually made into films. I don’t know yet if this one will make it.

    *fingers crossed*

  20. CATALYST has been optioned for a movie. That means a group of people are trying to put together the money, cast, crew, etc. Lots of books are optioned, few are actually made into films. I don’t know yet if this one will make it.

    *fingers crossed*

  21. CATALYST has been optioned for a movie. That means a group of people are trying to put together the money, cast, crew, etc. Lots of books are optioned, few are actually made into films. I don’t know yet if this one will make it.

    *fingers crossed*

  22. Hello! I just wanted to let you know, I highly enjoyed having you at my house this evening! Actually, I was rather freaked out, because OMGBIGSCARYWRITERLADY at my house! But you were wonderfully nice and. yay!

  23. Hello! I just wanted to let you know, I highly enjoyed having you at my house this evening! Actually, I was rather freaked out, because OMGBIGSCARYWRITERLADY at my house! But you were wonderfully nice and. yay!

  24. Hello! I just wanted to let you know, I highly enjoyed having you at my house this evening! Actually, I was rather freaked out, because OMGBIGSCARYWRITERLADY at my house! But you were wonderfully nice and. yay!

  25. You were nervous??? I’m so sorry! I had a blast at your house – see tonight’s entry for details. Tell Betsy I said good-night.

  26. You were nervous??? I’m so sorry! I had a blast at your house – see tonight’s entry for details. Tell Betsy I said good-night.

  27. You were nervous??? I’m so sorry! I had a blast at your house – see tonight’s entry for details. Tell Betsy I said good-night.

  28. love it!!

    Just recently I started reading your book Speak for an outside reading assignment, and its really hard to put down, I’ve read a lot of stupid teen books before, thinking that most authors must think that we’re braindead or something, but your book was an amazing relief. I loved how i could just laugh out loud and some of the things you write, and always know what the character is feeling. Your story has MEANING, something that most lack. I’m hooked!

  29. love it!!

    Just recently I started reading your book Speak for an outside reading assignment, and its really hard to put down, I’ve read a lot of stupid teen books before, thinking that most authors must think that we’re braindead or something, but your book was an amazing relief. I loved how i could just laugh out loud and some of the things you write, and always know what the character is feeling. Your story has MEANING, something that most lack. I’m hooked!

  30. love it!!

    Just recently I started reading your book Speak for an outside reading assignment, and its really hard to put down, I’ve read a lot of stupid teen books before, thinking that most authors must think that we’re braindead or something, but your book was an amazing relief. I loved how i could just laugh out loud and some of the things you write, and always know what the character is feeling. Your story has MEANING, something that most lack. I’m hooked!

  31. way to call my cell phone during english class mom! jeez, idiot. kidding. god, you still haven’t seen that one have you. looks like we have an agenda for your next week home. no it was cool though because mrs. kane wasn’t there today so we just had a sub. love you.

  32. way to call my cell phone during english class mom! jeez, idiot. kidding. god, you still haven’t seen that one have you. looks like we have an agenda for your next week home. no it was cool though because mrs. kane wasn’t there today so we just had a sub. love you.

  33. way to call my cell phone during english class mom! jeez, idiot. kidding. god, you still haven’t seen that one have you. looks like we have an agenda for your next week home. no it was cool though because mrs. kane wasn’t there today so we just had a sub. love you.

  34. Duh. Just got it – Napolean Dynamite. Ignore my worried email, I know what you’re talking about now. My brain went to sleep a couple hours ago. Time for the body to follow.

  35. Duh. Just got it – Napolean Dynamite. Ignore my worried email, I know what you’re talking about now. My brain went to sleep a couple hours ago. Time for the body to follow.

  36. Duh. Just got it – Napolean Dynamite. Ignore my worried email, I know what you’re talking about now. My brain went to sleep a couple hours ago. Time for the body to follow.

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