An hour and a half drive + one hour vacation time from work + 4.5 hours waiting in line = one very, very excited Meg — when she got to meet none other than Ree Drummond, the Internet (and world’s) very own Pioneer Woman!
Yes, friends, I typed 4.5 hours . . . because from approximately 6:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., I waited in line with Spencer, World’s Most Patient Boyfriend, in order to get my copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks signed by none other than PW herself.
I knew there’d be a massive crowd at the Borders in Fairfax, Va., just as there have been massive crowds along every stop of PW’s book tour. But did I anticipate hundreds of women and nary a man squished into the bookstore, all of us lined up like cattle (on a ranch!) to meet Ree? And did I think it would take all night to do so?
Nope. But that’s perfectly okay — because we managed to find a parking space just a few blocks away, I got my book signed and was entertained for hours by Lacey and Jennifer, our Line BFFs. We might not have known each other before we got our little tickets for places in line to meet PW, but we definitely knew a bit more about one another’s hopes and dreams after roughly four hours!
Ree was just as smiley, pleasant and sweet as you’d expect — even after meeting and snapping photos with approximately ten billion people last night. By the time we approached her table, she had a collection of little gifts folks had brought and was probably sick to death of having to flash that blindingly (truly, blindingly) white smile at all of us.
As she signed my book and I dumbly tried to think of something scintillating to share, Spencer snapped a few photos of the two of us. Looking up (and probably surprised) to actually see a guy standing there, Ree asked, “And who is this?”
I explained that Spencer, World’s Most Patient Boyfriend, had agreed to accompany me — and that in exchange for making him stand in line with me all night, I’d agreed to make him everything in her cookbook.
“Sounds like a fair trade for a night of waiting!” she said.
I agreed. And I just might start with those famous cinnamon rolls . . . if I can manage not to burn my hands off in the kitchen.
Hard to say.
write meg! 
Haha, I have no idea who this person is. Should I feel embarrassed about that?
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Not at all, but I definitely recommend checking out her site — recipes, photography, funny anecdotes… love it. And her!
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Great photos, Meg! I love Ree’s hilarious stories on her website about meeting/dating her husband :). I haven’t tried any of her recipes yet, but they sound delicious… Looking forward to hearing about you and those cinnamon rolls!
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So cool! And what a good boyfriend!
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Love it!!!
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Hey, I donated a bunch of books to charity today. Thanks for leaving that one on the table. I threw it in the pile.
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Those cinnamon rolls are amazing. I have made them twice now and my kids gave me the ultimate compliment when I tried to pass some store bought ones off on them after the homemade variety, “Yours are way better, Mom.” Ok, so they aren’t mine, they’re Ree’s but you might get out of having to cook *everything* in the cookbook for Spencer if you start with those. And since you get roughly 8 tins of them, that’ll keep him busy noshing for quite a while.
Oh, and as for your dad’s comment above…he sounds like my dad. Gotta love ’em, even as you are elbowing them in the side for being such a smart arse. 😉
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I am seriously jealous!! I should’ve sent you my copy so you could’ve gotten it autographed!!!
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Girl – I was there! I think you were behind me in line, though, because I picked up my book at 6:08P and walked out at 9:30P. OMG! Could not believe the crowd – I mean, I love her but I didn’t realize there’d be so many others to show up! My boyfriend came too and after an hour, I sent him home – he had an 8:00 concall. I do not believe Borders was prepared for the crowd and it bummed me out that they didn’t have a better set up for PW. She sold a lot of books for them last night and just sat there at the simple little table and chair with no banner, backdrop, nothing behind her. Apparently, they didn’t even tell the coffee shop she was coming – coffee gal told me they usually do so they can walk food samples around. Something tells me they didn’t think she was big enough. I guess they know better now!
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What a fun night! I bet deep down inside Spencer loved being surrounded by women!
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Thanks for the pics. Sounds like it was definitely worth it, and your boyfriends must be an absolute doll.
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You are too cute! I would have loved to go, but I just didn’t have the time. Spencer is AMAZING, hold onto him!
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Haha! Yeah! Meg is cute (with Spencer).
You look so happy meeting her! Good luck with those cinnamon rolls!
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meggers,
i started reading the pioneer woman a few years ago but kinda fell out of her blog. she’s funny and self-deprecating, but i couldn’t handle all the ranch pictures. 🙂 must be the jersey girl in me–i can’t imagine wide open spaces like that!
as for spencer…um, hello? he’s a KEEPER.
ps. i did make one of ree’s recipes, a caramel apple pie. i blogged it on my curly blog. she does take great photos and churn out some serious dishes.
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OMG! You met Ree? I’m so jealous!
Congrats.
As for Spencer, I agree he is a total keeper.
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I didn’t know who Ree was either, but those cinnamon rolls look really good. Let me know how it goes since it seems like our cooking skills are on the same level. Maybe if you can do i can too…
Btw does Spencer know he has a little fan club here? hahah. I’m glad y’all found each other. You two are too cute together!
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You took some great photos at the event.
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Isn’t it awesome. I just met her last night! Your photos are great.
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