Briefly,

because I am plumb worn out, and very distracted: there are so many great little shops in my neighborhood, independent businesses owned by extremely nice people who know everything about the Haight. This weekend I've had a number of lovely conversations with complete strangers. Gina is here, and she, my roommates, Matty and B, and my quietest friend down in Berkeley - everyone's been so lovely to me. Dearest sweetest Gina just brought me a glass of water, for instance, and sometimes a glass of water is the kindest thing a person can do. I don't know how I managed to accumulate such good people.

Gina's plane landed Friday night, and after a harrowing cab ride we spent the evening wandering my new neighborhood. I am almost as lost here as she is, though Gina has a natural compass that I just don't.

Saturday morning we woke at 5:30 because my new neighbors like to party underneath my window. After lying there for hours we rolled out of bed, and off I went to work at the bookstore while Gina read Tennessee Williams at a coffee shop. After work, I waited while Gina got a long massage. In the waiting room I petted an old terrier, then I found a comic book on the magazine rack - it was written (I realized) by an old coworker who now lives in Seattle. Afterwards Gina and I rode the bus home to make sandwiches, and suddenly, it was late. Then we jetted off to the Tenderloin for a very entertaining book release party, and after that, off to another party where the side table was piled with ten kinds of cheeses and five different peanut brittles and we wrote poetry on butcher paper. My friend T was resplendent in a fringed dress, and my other roommate, S, drove us hither and nigh in his biodiesel VW.

Early Sunday morning one of the neighbors' creepish pit bulls escaped and we woke early to whistling and screaming. We slept in fits and starts, then Matty and his neighbor drove over and picked us up. It's a very good thing B keeps his brakes in shape. Eeek! We saw Matty's CUTE new place, and then we walked just a few blocks to the beach. I realized that Matty lives near this restaurant called the Cliff House, meaning it's just a short bike ride away. I am overjoyed to report that Matty's in a lovely place now.

I should run. I'm being a rude host.