Sunday, October 20th, 2002 - Wow. Chow. He's nervous beforehand, though in such a sublte way perhaps I'm the only one aware of it other than him. He jokes a bit more than usual, and he hits on something rather amusing. "Oh, honey, that's pretty funny; you should use it. I know you probably won't, but you should." But he does. After Charliegirl's introduction, Tim gets up behind the podium and starts off with "Welcome to Psych 101. If this is not your class, please check your schedules." I'm so proud of him my hands do their little wiggle thing they do when I'm excited. I clasp my hands, breathlessly following him through his intro. He introduces himself and the story in such an easygoing, professional manner, and I'm swelling with the pride -- he's so suave, yet cute and disarmingly charming! It's been awhile since he's been on a stage -- in fact, I realize this is the first time I've seen him read on a real stage, with lights and a microphone -- and yet he's natural and smooth and so, so good. Can you tell I'm a little bit proud here? The story goes well. I notice a few little ticks that betray his nervousness, but they're tiny -- an occasional shake of the paper, his tendancy to kick his legs out from side to side. The many times he's practiced this story pay off -- he has the cadences down just right, and the effect is stunning. The audience starts off charmed by Anabelle (they even laughed, which I wasn't expecting), but I could feel them shift along with Tim's story -- their quiet gasps at the grisly bits, their silent horror at the past and their relief and awe at the trademark Tim Pratt happy, enchanting ending. It was so, so good. And I'm not just saying that because he's my preiance. The rest of the evening was fun, too. Susan, Jenfu, Josh (who has a journal around here somewheres) and Teddy joined us, so we had a groovy group of cool kids to kick about town with after the reading. (The rest of the reading was good, too, but I'm tired so you're getting the short version.) We went to dinner at Chow, which was so fucking yummy I think I had a taste-gasm right there at the table. I wiped my plate clean with a piece of bread, groaning both at the amazing meal I had just consumed and with dismay at it being over. The guy who took my plate laughed and said, "Oh, I can see you HATED your meal. I'll go reprimand the chef right now!" Seriously, I haven't enjoyed a meal so well since Scott fed us a few weeks back, and before then I can't remember. Yummy. After dinner we stood on a street corner and decided we were too poor to go bar hopping. While we stood there, I spotted Freud, who is one of those folks I've known almost since I moved out here (he's a good friend of Todd's) and it always amuses me the weird places I run into him; I bump into him more than anyone else I know out here, I swear. Freud gave me a flyer for a show he's spinning at, and I neglected to introduce him to my friends (which was rude; bad girl). Anyway. Short version. Right. So, a cab ride took us to the wrong spot and we ended up walking more than I wanted to. We ended up at Jen's apartment where we were entertained by her lovely black and white tom, Fang, who made me miss my cat so much it hurt. So nice to play with a frisky kitty, watch him leap at feathers and pounce and be just so damn cute. He's a kitty you can pick up and cuddle, too, which I love. Man, I love tom cats, especially lovey young ones like Fang. Finally, after hanging out for a bit, we headed for home. Teddy gave Susan and me and Tim a ride home, which was nice. Bleah, enough for tonight. I'm not even sure my sentences are making sense any longer. Good night all! Sweet dreams. Read to me, baby. Read to me.

Exercise Log: I haven't felt well all week, so not that much, I'm afraid. Writing log: Finished my edits on "Famishing" & will send it out soon. Current Publications: The Children of the Moon in Strange Horizons. In the Shade of You nominated in the long poem category for the Rhysling and will be reprinted in the 2002 Rhysling Anthology! "How to Suck" reprinted in From Porn to Poetry: Clean Sheets Celebrates the Erotic Mind I've been reading: Currently Reading: A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

Previous | Next List of Entries for this Month | Journal Index | Cafe Rambleflower The Nid