The theme of the trip so far has been this: it's okay to spend more money on a car/hotel if it means the experience will be more pleasant. We are still learning this lesson. The highlight of the car rental experience was picking up a copy of the SF Chronicle, which had this giant picture of my face.

The Booksmith is a fabulous bookstore, with a giant back room where I got to pretend that I was famous. It was kind of like going to the bathroom in a restaurant, which magically makes your food appear. When I came out of the back room, the audience was full. Amazing!

I like to talk with my hands.

My cousins, who now fall into the 'sisters or mother/daughter?' mystery category.

Jessi is getting married tomorrow, AND it's her birthday tomorrow, AND she still came to my reading. Everybody else, your excuses suck.

Nobody tell them there's a story in the book about sisters who hate each other.

This is about as punk rock as I'm ever going to get.

Kate is cute, part one. (Booksmith Edition.)

Caitlin Roper, Dream Date.

I imported Mike and Jenny from New York, and then forced them to sit in the front row.

Joey is the best, and here's why: he brought me a giant box of fancy chocolate AND a DVD cover of Strange Powers for both of us to sign, in addition to my book. What a sweetie. I should mention that another friend brought salted caramels, and a total stranger made lemon bars! Whatever I'm doing, it's working. When I'm 400 pounds, it'll be your fault, people, but I love you for it.

All my friends have cute glasses. This is a truth.

Kevin was my middle school French and Latin teacher. Here's how much French and Latin I know: rien. But isn't he adorable?

Did I mention that the fancy chocolates were golden and shining and beautiful? They were.

Kate is cute, part two. (Tartine Edition.)