It was pouring rain last Thursday — teeming down in sheets — as we stuck our three kids into Andy and Harue's van. Kenzo was crying so hard he had a bloody nose; that's what we get for trying to mix family and business.

But it all turned out well. Our friends took their three kids and our three kids to a pizza joint near Union Square — these are parents who know no fear — while Yuko and I zipped off to Get Lost Travel Books to meet Bob Juppe and do our Kuhaku reading.

The crowd was small — about seven people, not including us and the store's staff — but the event was very fun. For me, the highlight was listening to bookstore owner Lee praise our book up and down. He talked about how most books leave him cold these days, but Kuhaku grabbed him because of its beauty and its wide range of stories. He said, "This is one book that can be judged by its cover." It is humbling when someone gets what you're trying to do. In the words of Stephen Colbert, Lee "gets it."

After offering the crowd some plum wine, Pocky sticks and crackers, I talked about Chin Music briefly then let Yuko and Bob, the night's main readers, take over the show. They made a great combination for showing off the book's breadth — from cheating housewives to bilingual dogs in just two readings. I finished off by reading a few glossary entries. I had planned to start off with butoh but after sizing up the crowd went with a lineup of gaijin, hanabi, rajio taiso and yukata instead.

Get Lost Travel Books is a gem. It's pristine, well lit and has a dirigible hanging from the ceiling. The mix of travel gear and literature works well, and the second-floor space creates an intimate stage for readings. I talked to Lee about doing an event for DYK, and it sounds like all we have to do is set the date.