…and through the woods, to Great-Aunt Doris’ house we go…When we were kids someone would get carsick. Someone (adult) would drink too much. We were always late, and heard about it (we still do). Politics — like religion, a verboten topic — would be broached anyway, and tempers would rise. Those were the days. I went to see my Great-Aunt Doris the day after Thanksgiving, with two of my kids in tow. She’s 95 now, and I have mentioned how she recently had a pacemaker put in. But we’re long-lived on the Bailey-Upshaw side of the family, and she still has a few years left if she’s to catch up…

My hands are freezing. What is it about this time of year? I was just sitting on the beach, it seems, like last week, except it was actually July, but it feels so recent that this cold weather makes me feel cheated and bereft. I’ve been playing catch-up (again) this last week after Literati Nov. 5, and I did a bunch of domestic stuff like cleaned the house, laundry, emptied my car of Literati supplies, etc. Very exciting stuff! Aren’t you glad you’re reading!?! High on my list are the thank-you notes I’ve been sending to all and sundry participants, as well as trying to wrangle up a bunch of…

And…scene! It’s over. For this year, at least, and not counting the accounting, where I find out if my mini-fund matches my worksheet and see how much I personally paid for, ka-CHING! Not counting the many, many thank-yous I need to write and send. Not counting the sleep I’m still catching up on. And so forth. Literati 2005 is past. It was really fun, not without some glitches, and not without some sublime moments. Moments like: Ben Fong-Torres brought to tears by a question from my dear longtime friend Charley Thompson during the one-on-one interview. Moments like: Bobby Sharp, in the songwriters’ studio, playing a cassette of Sarah Vaughn singing…

…that’s fit to blog. Catching up in between massive to-do lists, the reality is that Alameda Literati is just two weeks away (less, now) and I still have so much to do. Still sending how-to emails to the vendors, participants, panelists and authors. Speakers drop out, others agree and pop into the schedule. It’s a regular musical chairs going on — and publicity keeps going out the door. I’m behind on a number of key assignments for Al-Lit because you see, I have this day job that requires actual work from 8:30 to 5-ish and that makes my weekends and evenings a veritable Death March of Literati PR and other…

Actually, it’s impossible this time of year. Alameda Literati is a mere three weeks away (check it out at www.alamedaliterati.org — it changes up every few days) and I’ve been chasing down the details every spare hour. That means a couple of hours every night and lots of weekend time. I was sick twice in three weeks, each for 3-4 days, so that really put a cramp in my style. But back at it. Details, you ask? Like what? Like ordering the bounce house, like soliciting donations for the goodie bags and raffle table, like scheduling the speakers, like remembering to borrow the microphones, like asking for volunteers and getting…