I've been nominated for a Million Writers Award by Monkeybicycle for my piece "Feet In Socks".
Panels, readings and speakers will be announced this week for Pilcrow Lit Fest.
Please help this lady meet her fundraising goal for the Komen Race for the Cure in San Antonio.
I found a new apartment, mere blocks from my current one, and it's a serious upgrade and I couldn't be more excited.
That's what I know tonight.
Look what magic arrived in the mail today from BookWoman of Austin!
(Before anyone thinks to call me on it, no I did not cut my hair. I said I wasn't going to cut it until my second book was completely finished and I am a woman of my word. My hair, in response to the muggy weather today, is tied back in a bun.)
My brother is so talented with a camera. He made me look like a rockstar.
The reading last night at Sixth Street Live could not have possibly gone any better. The crowd came, a dear old friend gave me an introduction that brought tears to my eyes, we laughed, I read, we chatted, I sold many books, I had a great night. Last night earned the "favorite reading ever" title. For sure. Without a doubt.
In fact, I'm still kind of at a loss for words. Just a wonderful, gratifying, meaningful experience. Absolutely.
If I sent you a text message between 1am and 5am, I sincerely apologize. Alcohol makes me chatty and hyper and, apparently, unable to read a watch.
So, I am pretty hungover. No, I was hungover, but I'm okay now, just a bit slow. My brother and I caught up with an old friend, made a couple of new friends, and drank our faces off last night. I drink socially, but last night, I seemed particularly exuberant and paid for that dearly this morning. Luckily, it wasn't anything a little breakfast covered in hot sauce didn't fix.
Prior to getting tanked up like a fratboy on a mission, Lil Brother and I went for veg sushi and hung out. Before that, we trekked around various parts of the city, soaking up the sunshine and sort of playing tourist, stumbling into a presidential memorabilia shop and leaving with cool 8x10s of FDR. Lovely times. The day began in one of the finer establishments in this area, the Ol' South Pancake House, which boasts the motto, "Sho good eatin'! Cain't be beaten!"
Today is one of those days I don't allow myself nearly enough of. We're hanging out. (Okay, my Lil Brother lives in Swanksylvania, so I am usurping his washer and dryer, so I suppose I am technically accomplishing something.) Lil Brother is in the other room playing the guitar. I'm typing and checking email, but not with too much urgency. It's all quite nice. We're going to track down a friend later, but for now, hanging out suits us both just fine.
Okey doke. Let me bring you up to speed.
The reading at Bookwoman was lovely. The audience was a small one, but they were mighty. It lent a nice air of casualness and intimacy, as if friends were together chatting, so it was something new and a different way to do things, so a great time. Virginia of Virginiainc came out (and brought along her CDs to hand out, many thanks for mine, and was super-cool to meet and chat with beforehand), along with other fine people including an old friend, Primavera, who now calls Austin home.
After the reading, which I kept low-key and enjoyed, Primavera and I set out with the idea of some tattooage, but got sidetracked at a cool bar in her neighborhood, then dinner at Maiko Sushi (asparagus tempura roll? Yes, please.), then after dashing around in the rain, we settled in for more drinkage at The Ginger Man. I have to tell you, I haven't seen Primavera in fifteen years, but we had an incredible time hanging out. Really. I am almost stunned by how easily we chatted and laughed the night away, and I was delighted to discover how many things we have in common these days. I felt time spent with her was wonderful and meaningful and, needless to say, I am very glad Primavera and I are in touch again. She is just the kind of person moments aren't wasted upon. She does incredible work and lives life so wonderfully and fully and, well... the world could use a few more just like her, really. Or, we could all stand to learn from her. Maybe both.
In fact, we had such a lovely time hanging out that we decided to meet up again before I left town. So, we met up at Halcyon the next morning for latte. Love that place. Good, good times. I can't even really blog it justice. Something about hanging out with and really connecting with someone from my past gave me such a solid sense of clarity. It was comforting to hear another perspective on shared events from long ago that maybe help to shape me one way or another.
After a quick errand, I was on the road. The drive was mainly uneventful, except for spotting a funnel cloud threatening my car (no biggie, right?) and soon I arrived at my brother's house. We hung out a bit, he let me dig through his latest (breathtaking) photographs, I made him haul my heavy-ass bag out of the car, the rain caught up to me, we went to dinner at a kick ass Tex-Mex place, then held court in a chill neighborhood bar for a few hours before calling it a night and heading back to his place.
I woke up this morning on his couch with the television airing some Clive Barker adaptation that involved a little person cast as perhpas Pan's evil alter-ego who generally made himself a nuissance by boiling goldfish, scratching walls and summoning up a devil-guy. Uh, okay.
We're chillin' today. Something outdoors before the next wave of thunderstorms hit this afternoon.
Due to a minor but unfortunate string of events, I have changed hotels. Let's just leave it at that. What can I say? You've got to speak up when things go awry and sometimes that clears the way for wild streaks of great luck. Anyway.
I went by Bookwoman this morning and said hello-- what a cute place! Another store I adore. I picked up a cook vegetarian book and a few fun stickers for my typewriter case (and one for my friend Schwartzy because it was so "her" I couldn't not get it). So great. I'm excited for the reading. It's small in there, so I have no idea where all the crowds and crowds of people will sit tonight (har har) but it'll be great. I just know it.
Anyway, the rain pissed off, the sun is beating down on this gorgeous city, and I am off to scrounge up some lunch and see what I see. I think an old favorite place of mine still exists near here. That'd be a kick.
Hey folks. I made it through Arkansas with the help of Jane's Addiction and Morrissey. I'm outside of Dallas now at another truckstop. This time, though, there is a television above my head instead of a speaker blaring country music, like the previous truckstop. Everyone sitting in the dining room is looking at the television, but it feels weird to see a bunch of strangers facing me as I sit below the television. Everyone is glued to the television to watch the really terrible weather coming through. Texas storms are incredible. Driving through storms is not my favorite. So, I'll check in with the blogosphere again once I get settled in my hotel in Austin. Close. Close. Close. If I can just outrun the storms a bit, all will be well.
I got a little shout-out on Austinist today about tomorrow's reading at Bookwoman. Really, if you are in Austin tomorrow, I'd love to see your smiling face. Really. Loooove it.
Anyway, I've taken some interesting photographs during my travels today. I made a stop in Hope, Arkansas (of course) because I tend to like my presidents a little bit wonky, I suppose.
Texans! Are you ready for a little Guth-a-Go-Go?
5/9
Boookwoman , 7pm-ish
918 W. 12th St. (12th & Lamar)
Austin, TX
5/14
Sixth Street Live , 7pm sharp!
2736 W. 6th Street
Fort Worth, TX
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