Steve pulls Admin. by arm away from Kate; Kate silenced by 'child labor' question

Highlights:

• I asked Kate, What about the new child labor laws that may be coming down, will that affect filming? Steve then stepped toward me, grabbed my right arm tightly and pulled me away, telling me okay time to move on.
• A Barnes and Noble "security" person called her a bitch.
• At any given time the line was only about 10 people long.
• Kate showed up 15 minutes early but didn't come out to start signing books until 7:15. At 7:30 she took a break, then came back out at 7:45.
• Tony is awesome.

The recap:

Most of the pictures were taken on my Blackberry, so they're a little blurry, I apologize. I brought my other camera, but there was so much going on so fast I sort of forgot about it. When you're being pulled away by a bodyguard, you can't think about cameras.

Dodger's game tonight, so traffic was pretty messy. I knew I couldn't count on Kate staying all that long, but I thought she would at least stay an hour, so when I finally arrived about 7:25 I thought I had plenty of time to see her and get my book signed.

When I arrived at Barnes and Noble, I kept looking for the line. Where were the crowds? Where was Kate? I saw a few Barnes "security" people, employees in suit coats, roaming around, so I assumed I was in the right place. It's true, it appears this event wasn't planned way in advance. But this blog heard about it several days ago, so it wasn't completely last minute. And Third Street and Wilshire Blvd. on a Friday night is about the busiest place in L.A.

Suddenly, my retina started burning from a beaming white light. No, it wasn't Jesus. It was Kate's veneers glowing on this sign:

I was in the right place! I went up the escalator where Kate was singing books between a few bookshelves, at least two separate camera crews swarming around her. And Steve, and someone else who I think was a cop--the real bodyguard.

But where were the ... fans? Finally I discovered the line, which consisted of a mom with her two kids, one of whom was using a walking stick the sight-impaired use, and a few teenage girls. I figured I would wander around a bit see what I see, hear what I hear, before getting in line. I went around to the back and found that I could stand behind Kate's table, a few feet away, and maybe hear her--turns out I couldn't. And that's when I saw Tony! For some reason I didn't even think about him, but it makes sense he was here if they are going to use this book signing as a segment on DWTS. Tony I actually really like, and I said hi to him and asked if I could have his picture. He beamed and said of course, but why don't you get in it too! I'm cropped out because my own security is better than what Steve provides, but this is Tony's half of the picture. He is completely adorable, no?

We chatted a bit longer, he was talking to the fans and joking around with the crew, and Kate was talking to the sight-impaired boy for awhile, although that was when I was talking to Tony so I couldn't hear a thing, and then all of a sudden Kate started getting up. I looked at my blackberry clock. What? It was only 7:30! Within seconds Steve was leading Kate away. Was it over already? WTF. I didn't get to ask her my questions!

Kate was ushered behind some closed doors with Steve, Tony and the crew. Barnes and Noble people stood guard in front of the doors. I decided to hang out a few minutes and see if she would reappear.
At that point a 20-something woman approached security and asked if she could go in. They said no, only media. She said I am media, I'm with Radaronline. They still said no. I thought that was interesting, since we've long speculated that Radaronline is in her back pocket. By the way, I ultimately wasn't given a press pass either. Me and Radaronline both! We were told only photographers. Well, I guess that makes sense. Photos can't ask questions. Real people CAN! I approached the Radaronline reporter and told her what blog I was with and we had a good conversation. She agreed that Kate was very polarizing and that any time they publish a Gosselin article their hits go through the roof. She made fun of how few people were there, about 40, she guessed. The BN security guard was laughing at this. She said that Kate came 15 minutes before 7 o'clock then disappeared into that room. She came back out at 7:15 to start signing books. Now it was 7:30, and Kate had gone to take a break again. So she signed books for a full fifteen minutes before a break. Fifteen minutes of waving a pen, must be exhausting! Radar chick was really nice and promised to check out the Blog. She got tired of waiting for Kate and left.
By now maybe a dozen people had gathered with their books and there were some more teenage girls who were saying they were her biggest fans. I really didn't care so much about Kate coming back out for me, but I felt like she should for those girls. I started asking if she was coming out, and one of the security guards said there was talk she was done for the night. I couldn't believe that. A fifteen minute book signing and she was done.
Several more minutes passed and the teenage girls were starting to get upset that they missed her. "I can't believe she's not coming out again, she's a bitch," I muttered. A security guard was standing right next to me and he murmured, "She is a bitch." Haha, what a surreal moment. I realize now I should have followed up on that and asked him why he said that. But sometimes it's more fun to just leave it at that.

Just as I was about to give up they said okay, Kate's coming back out. I was next in line behind the teenagers. Steve came over and started chatting to them, and he told them they should tune in because Kate Plus 8 would be airing soon. Ha, not if Rep. Murt can help it, Steve-o! I almost asked him about child labor laws right then but I didn't want him on alert that I wasn't Kate's biggest fan.

After the girls talked to her I approached Kate with my book. She didn't say anything to me. Um. So I said, "Hi Kate, thanks for coming out here." She said you're welcome. She signed my book. She asked if I wanted my name, and I said no that's okay just your autograph. Then I said, "Kate, is it hard to keep in touch with your kids through text messages?" There was speculation on here that Kate wouldn't realize what I was asking. But let me tell you, she's not stupid. She snapped her head up, looked me square in the eye, the bitch face swept across her features, and she said, coldly and succinctly: "I keep in touch with my kids all the time."

I wouldn't say I was afraid of her, but I knew I was playing with the big girls now. I knew I was probably going to get off one more question before Steve called it quits. Originally I was going to ask her about the book, I was going to ask if she thought it was a good idea to reveal such private details about the children. But for some reason, probably because Steve was just raving about Kate Plus 8 and the crew was right there, I suddenly decided to ask her "What about all the new child labor laws that may be coming down, will that affect filming?"

I don't think that question was necessarily rude or inappropriate, and I asked it in a respectful tone. It's a legitimate question--How will you film the kids if child labor laws say you can't? And actually, I wish now I hadn't asked about text messaging--that was more just to be mean. I regret being mean. Kate is mean, but that doesn't mean I should be mean, too. I wish I had gotten off more solid questions about child labor laws. But oh well. But anyway, Kate's face went blank and she stared at me, speechless. Tony made Kate speechless by doing the Tango, I made Kate speechless by saying the secret words of the day: CHILD LABOR LAWS. Fortunately Superdud came to her rescue. Steve stepped forward, grabbed my right arm in his fingers, squeezed quite tightly and pulled me away from her. Okay, move along now, he said.

There was no need to say anything else, I got my point across. I went willingly. No, I'm not planning to sue Steve or file a report or whatever. His job is to protect Kate from having to ever answer anything off the script. He was just doing his job. He didn't hurt me, there are no bruises. I wish he didn't touch me with those little rat claws, he could have asked me to leave and I would have, but whatever. By the way, Steve is short and skinny. Kate was quite pretty I thought, with great skin and sparkling eyes. They make a great couple.