welcome lynn sherr. [applause] >> thank you ann, very much. thanks to all of you. i want to say welcome to this beautiful place and also thank you for having me here. i love being among book lovers and for those who of you who came to hear vicki talk about her wonderful book about elephants, i'm sorry about that but if it helps i did write a book about giraffes. truly magnificent creatures. i will take a little detour here. i will tell you that i considered giraffes not only the most gorgeous creatures on the planet and also the most politically correct. they never attack unless they're attacked. very peaceable. they're vegetarians and no giraffe discriminates against another giraffe on basis of its skin patterns. they also have the longest eyelashes in captivity. they're great creatures, and more than happy to talk about them tall blondes and that book another time. for now i wish you a happy valentine's day and i suggest that you, sometimes today hug someone or something you love. as that only happens to be a book that's okay, too. we love books. i also want to p