UPDATE: 8/20/2012…see below…

And wouldn’t you know it, I ran into fellow (and far more popular) blogger who’s name is ALSO Jen (though she’s known by most as The Bloggess)!

At Costco you can even find Jens in bulk!

I’ll give a fuller report tomorrow of all the awesome!

Aaaaaaand here’s the promised follow-up!

First of all, let me just say, Jenny Lawson is THE sweetest, sweetheart of a lady I think I’ve ever met outside of my circle of friends.

She took her time with each of her admiring fans, she was personable, she was genuine and she never rushed anyone.

Because the event was at a Costco (a location so damn contrary to what anyone thinks of when they think of “book signings” that it was totally perfect) Jenny wasn’t able to do a true reading mostly because of all the cussing in her book “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened”, but also because  it was a Costco.

Jenny made up for the lack of reading by bringing with her Copernicus, the Homicidal Monkey and her husband Victor. Both were terrific sports. Copernicus, because he refrained from killing anyone (mostly because Jenny’s fans are wary of his hugs) and Victor because he happily snapped photos of his wife’s fans as they basked in the glow of her awesomeness.

When I got up to the table, after she’d complimented my Blue Box Ale t-shirt (she’s a recent Doctor Who fan), I stated as casually as possible, “You’ve never heard of me, but I’m Jen Tidwell.” To which she jaw-droppingly (mine, not hers) replied, “Oh my God, I’ve TOTALLY heard of you!”

After this, I’m not sure what else happened because I was in a state of euphoria that she’d heard of me, and not just because a while back I’d asked her permission to use her photo of Juanita Weasel in my Testimonial Gallery.

Anyway, at some point during my blissful coma I managed to ask her to affirm her knowledge of me by signing an 8×10 of herself, and then I suggested she do a reading of her book over the public address system, substituting “Beyonce” in place of foul-language. This made her laugh, which was awesome.

After that, Victor took our photo, and my wife and I got out of the way so as not to monopolize any more of her time.

It was a terrific experience, made that much more special with the knowledge that Jenny has to overcome her own deep-seated anxiety with social gatherings to even make it to these events. She is incredibly generous and selfless.

Her book tour is finished now, but if she ever comes to a city near you, take a moment to go see her and thank her for all that she does.

AND THIS WEEK’S ADDITION TO THE TESTIMONIAL GALLERY IS (who else?):

The Bloggess herself, Jenny Lawson!! Yaaaaaaay!! (Kermit-flail.gif)