I asked Debra Silvestrin if I could have a booth next to Amy the Advice Goddess because I thought it would be fun, and maybe I would get some advice. (Dear Advice Goddess, why have so many of my ex-girlfriends become dykes?) But I did not realize how strategic a move it would turn out to be.

While the fun and advice were indeed flowing, I was also able to learn at the feet of a world-class schmoozer. As anyone who tried walking by her booth probably found out, it actually was not possible to walk by her booth. She says “Hi” the way a spider greets a fly, and even a single response tangles you in her net. I watched wide-eyed, and even managed to net a few of her leftovers, but it wasn?t long before the student became the master.

As some of you may have noticed, I brought a lot of food to my booth, hoping to bribe my food column into some more papers. I am happy to report that by day two the Advice Goddess had jumped on my bandwagon, so to speak, with a plate of cookies of her own.

We didn’t quite figure out why so many of my ex-girlfriends have jumped the fence, but we agreed it would have been hotter if I had waited until they had, and then dated them. We also agreed that she and I write about two of the most important things in the world.

When I donned my Michelangelo David apron, Amy suggested I get into television, which I think is Hollywoodspeak for “I want to get into your pants.” Maybe this means she wants to be a dyke.