A Lone Lightbulb:

After a few days of wondering why my favorite NYC bloggers hadn't updated, I remembered that big blackout thing.

Duh.

Everyone I know and love is fine, including my folks, 2 aunts and their families and my grandparents out on Long Island. What a relief.

Quakin'

Spent much of Sunday eve working a reading event for Litquake that served as a joint fundraiser for 826 Valencia, Dave Eggers writing-lab/pirate store project for kids.

Though the lineup was spectaular (Glen David Gold, Aimee Bender, Michael Chabon and Eggers himself to name but a few), our publicity was lackluster which led me to believe that we'd get a decent but not great turnout.

I worked the door and, how can I put this? Dave Eggers should run for governor of California. Or failing that he should run for Messiah. I think there's an opening.

Not only did we turn away 50-75 people after we reached capacity but about a dozen waited patiently in the lobby to see if anyone left the crowded, hot auditorium at intemission so they could slip in. Among them were two adorable young women who didn't recognize a single author on the bill but looked heartbroken when I told them they might miss Dave reading. They spent the first half of the show camped out on the front stoop like I did for AC/DC tickets 15 years ago.

If this is any indication what sort of place literature has in the minds of this generation, my book is off to a rollicking start. Oh and Dave Eggers should start a cult, while his got all this momenteum built up.

"Free" lance:

This morning Maggie pointed me to a very funny and dead on piece about the average day of a freelance writer. It reminded me of Fran Lebowitz's legendary piece about a typical day of her life. Hers had a lot more smoking than this one, but you get the idea.

I wonder if those out there who work 9 to 5 jobs know what mutants us freelancers are, how we live in fear of never doing enough, of overcompensating be working way too hard and then dulling the aniexty with watery coffee, Homestar Runner cartoons and reruns of Law & Order. Of course, everyone on that show has a real job so screw them and their retirement accounts.

Er, right. I should get some work done.

And it could be yours...

Run don't walk to acquire some of the few remaining copies of All This is Mine, a beautiful little zine by a woman named Sugene. The issue I have (#9) has a key ring, several erasers, and a page composed entirely of letters. This is zine making on a whole other level, a Griffin and Sabine level where each book is a little bound work of art. In this case, they're available for $5. Wow.

Milky Berkeley:

On a completely unrelated note, did ya know Berkeley, CA is the mass lactation capitol of the world? It's true.

Fellow Leo:

My bestest birthday wishes to my friend Sarah, who doesn't look a day over 23.

The real day after...

Wow, what a fly birthday! Suzan, her sis Anne Marie, and our friends Rebecca and Wendy completely transformed our house, a whole load of people showed up (several with Hula Hoops) and DJ Amber kept things going on the turntables. When I stopped worrying about whether everyone was having a good time (which Suzan told me, repeatedly, wasn't my concern) I had a really good time. Most amazingly, we were able to get 50-60 people I really love in one room, at one time, on a weekend night in San Francisco. It blew my mind.

So, thanks my lovely girlfriend and her amazing team for throwing this fab event. Thanks to Roman and Anne Marie for keeping me entertained during the day and thanks to everyone who came or wished me well and made the last few days so special.

We now return to your regularly scheduled life.

Present report...

A mighty cool writing pen from my folks. I also treated myself to a hardcover book.

Must sleep. Big happenings tomorrow.

30 me...

Today is my birthday. I'm 30. Yes 30. I've been told that 30 is the new 21 which apparently is a theory that's been all over the place in the last few years and I missed completely. Elaboration is nowhere to be found.

Famous people I share a birthday with...

Garrison Keillor, Charlize Theron, David Duchovny, Billie Burke ("Glinda the Good Witch") and anthropolgy rockstar Louis Leaky.

Greed: My Amazon Wish List, just in case you think I need one more book.

Got home last night. Suzan and I are going to go hiking today and dancing with some friends tonight. Big party is this weekend.

I'm all for social software but...

Does anyone really see the difference between Friendster and Tribe.net? I'm just askin'.