Oh, mercy. Yes, I am. Yesterday was World Horror and the Persephone panel; it was also an amazing piece of luck, in that I wanted to drop off the chocolate espresso bean cookies I had brought to give David Evangelista at the salon so that I wouldn't have to carry them, and David walked in, and he had Erica (the executive producer of the CBS Early Show) with him, so we had a nice squeeing reunion. And I took the opportunity while her eyes were going wide as she munched a cookie to warn her that I had something to pitch to her, a project, and she said cool! Do you have my email, or do you need it?

And I did pitch it to the talent (that would be David - and the SF makeover is part of his professional highlight reel), and David says the Early Show does book launches all the time, and they should do mine, and I should tell Erica, and where did I want to do it?

So I am totally chuffed. Also gawjuss, with hair and stuff all done for free.

Plus? Dinner tonight with good buddy and DMLA stablemate Laura Anne Gilman, and we may both have stories in the 44 Clowns anthology.

Way to start off your trip, Deb! Sniffle. God, I miss New York.

Whooey, Deb! Hobnobbing it! Sounds like a very satisfactory trip.

God, I miss New York.

Heh. I totally don't; this is the second trip in a row that I've actually found thoroughly enjoyable, and I wouldn't and couldn't live here again for anything you could offer me. I snarled at a guy on the train today, and I had something unpleasantly resembling a panic attack on Canal Street, when I got stuck in a human traffic jam.

But I'm enjoying the visit hugely.

I really have to go, one day. EVERY "What City are You?" says it's me. I always think it will be somewhere in CA...I guess I have a little 'tude, after all.

Oddly enough, I like human traffic jams--not active mindless mobs, but crowded streets. They make me feel nicely anonymous and weirdly powerful. As if I could do anything and there are too many potential suspects for anyone to pin it on me.

I melt down. I had forgotten just how often I get bumped into, brushed against by, and accidentally footstepped on, and by just how many people I've never seen before and have no desire to see again, when I hit Manhattan. I like it not (the bump-brush-stepping part; Manhattan itself is fine).

Tomorrow is my meeting with my editor. Today was Kristin, and later Kristin and my daughter at a family style Italian restaurant called Carmine's.

I can't stand human traffic jams. Thus, desert. I keep thinking about the 'Qatsi movies and feel compelled to do something unexpected and unpredictable, like suddenly lurch sideways, or do a 360 or something. Then at that point, the human traffic jams don't like me.

Edited to add what I meant to say, which is, I'm glad you're having a good trip, deb.

It's very strange. I grew up in the country, with only one house even in sight, and I still find hills and mountains and wilderness beautiful. But my soul doesn't feel like it's firing on all cylinders unless I'm surrounded by people. I think it's the sense of mad potential.

Drabble time!

This is our sort-of 1-year drabble anniversary -- a drabbleversary, if you will. I'm not sure there's any super-duper-fantabulous drabbleversary challenge topic that exists, but I'm giving it a shot.

Challenge #52 (more pictures from Look At Me) is now closed.

Challenge #53 is: One Year. Do anything you want with it. Anything at all.

And thanks to everyone who's a part of this community, just for being a part of it, and for your willingness to share some truly incredible writing over the past year. My writing teacher always says that sharing one's writing with others is a generosity, and that's really true. So thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.

Now go write something!