Last week I got the opportunity to meet Tori Amos, my favorite current performer, in a Record Company/Record Store promotional event at Tower Records here in Hollywood. I knew it would be very brief and my intent was really just to get her to sign a copy of a Birthday Tribute I had posted here back on her last birthday and give her a copy as well...and say 'Hi, I really like your work and admire your perseverance and determination and am glad things seem to be working out well for you." But after 5 hours of standing in line my body & brain apparently ran out of steam and the connection between brain and mouth shut down suddenly once we got inside the nice, if slightly too warm, store. Hadn't eaten since before noon and it was after 10pm, so my blood-sugar was probably a factor, too. But I did have fun prior to that with a few folks I met in line...Nick, a sharp and engaging college student at nearby UCLA and also Karen and her daughter, Elizabeth, who at 15 seemed to be the youngest person there. They were both very nice and fun to talk to. I was just ahead of them in line and since Security hustled you out of there pronto as soon as you were done I don't know if their meetings went any better. I hope so...I think maybe they did...it seemed Tori was able to muster some "reflective enthusiasm" for people who had some to shine her way...I was just too pooped...my almost 55-year-old constitution was begging for hydration, food, rest and uh...a bathroom...no criticism of Tori here, but the Security considerations (and I know they must take them) felt a bit too regimented, at least for my taste.