I'm not sure where it snuck in from, but apparently there's a new year, and it's mostly sparkling.

Let's cover the notable past, firstly.

• I sold a piece of art. It was hanging in the bookstore coffeeshop, and it was the Hardy Boys running in terror away from a looming Cthulu. It was called The Good Looking Young Men and the Cosmic Evil.
• We went to Canada, Dave and I did. We took our bikes, we took the train, we took our sweet time getting there, and then we stayed a week, pedalling around the city, pretending we were naturals, and watching the fireworks.
• I learned how to do quite a few fancy things on the computer, including the wide world of vector illustration, which helped a lot in my substantial fiddlings at Soupcycle.
• Learned a few of the nuances involved with playing Scrabble on facebook.
• I became severely infatuated with Viso. I haven't proselytized that much since the Mountain Goats, but it has that rush of caffeine that just can't be beat, and I could gaze into the deep blue pools of the bottles for like, ages. Plus 100% of your daily vitamins and minerals!
• I made a couple hundred wedding invitations for some rad folks.
• Took a writer's workshop, wrote a few bajillion words, and then stopped.
• We finally made it to the Japanese Gardens, and I cursed myself for ever having judged it by the Chinese Gardens. It's absolutely huge, and where the Chinese Gardens are like a dollop of calm in the messy sundae of Downtown Portland, the Japanese Gardens are like being bathed in a pool of milk. That simile went offcourse somewhere, but the Japanese Gardens of Portland are just truly serene and amazing.
• We got a new roommate...who's a ninja! Yeah, in your face, suckers.
• Went to a garden party, but most of the people knew my name and recognized me. I looked the same.
• Oooh, we went camping, too, up at Lost Lake. Only for a night, really, but it's such a gorgeous location, tucked away right below Mt.Hood. The next day, we paddled around on the water for the whole morning and watched the salamanders wriggle up and down from the bottom of the lake.
• We dogsat, and catsat, and basically just lived in people's houses for a couple weeks. Litterboxes were cleaned, walks were taken, poop was scooped, and it was as if we were responsible adults for a change.
• Did I see any live shows? Geez, that's a tricky one. I finally saw Little Wings,  I went to see a friend's band, but other than that? Drawing lots of blanks for live music.
• I survived Snowpocalypse 2008, and all I got was this rad recipe for a hot alcoholic drink: Hot apple cider plus Tuaca plus whipped cream equals intoxicating apple pie in your mouth. 

Here's a list of famous people I met this year:
Neal Stephenson is a good listener.
Art Spiegelman told me a great story about P.K. Dick.
Stephenie Meyer made a terrific joke about her fans fighting each other to the death, Thunderdome style.
Carson Ellis' child started to cry while I was trying to convey how much I liked her art, but she didn't pass him off to Colin Meloy.
Michael Pollan happened to walk into the room just as I was opening up my tupperware full of pasta-roni. 
The guys who wrote "Stuff White People Like" were really nice, and one of them gave me a piece of candy. Also, they invited everyone at the reading to stop by the bar afterwards and have a drink with them.
I couldn't find "Go Ask Alice" for Saul Williams and his daughter, but to be honest, that book irritates me, anyway. 
I have problems recognizing Chuck Palahuniak with his new beard.
Charles Bock's "Beautiful Children" garnered some amazing poster art. 
I think Shannon Wheeler and I almost count as old friends by now.
I'd just about say the same about Lord Whimsy.
One of the original Merry Pranksters called me "dear". 
Sarah Vowell was coming down with something. 
Jane Kirkpatrick and I agree about her book covers.
Eoin Colfer is just as charming as everyone says.
Jim Wallis knows people in Portland.
I've got to learn to recognize Tom Spanbauer on sight. 
Graham Salisbury loves rebound books.
Blake Nelson promises he'll bring me a poster. 

Tags: famous people, lists, new year
how i feel: donuts & milk of magnesia

   I think I may have fallen slightly from my rocker, which is not such a good thing to start the new year with, admittedly.

   I have been reading good books, though, which is nice, and I have thoughts of starting a book list.

   The roommates and I have caught the lightest sneeze of cabin fever, which wound up with me slumping against the ground and writhing anxiously over the decorative placement of a freaking...I don't know...I think it was a tangerine or a clementine or tangelo. Something orange and dripping citrus juice on our wall. I had a small fit of irrational exasperation. It was a rough morning, compounded by the effects of an entire pot of Bailey's laced coffee.

   At least I've got Hank.


"Lordy, I have loved some ladies
and I have loved Jim Beam
and they both tried to kill me
in 1973"


Oh, and remember when I had long hair?

Tags: angst, new year
what i hear: hank williams jr.-family tradition