Things that are making me happy

1. charlottecooper
has posted some really ravishing stuff about her recent trip to the US from London at charlottecooper.net, "Inside the American Beast." Every short essay is a gem -- really -- fireflies! doo wop architecture! chocolate fondant body wrap at the Hershey's Spa! Nolose! (and what she said about hearing me read there made me cry) -- but my very favorite is "Kill The Car, Robosaurus!" about a monster truck rally. The pictures are great, too. Don't miss this! So so so so good!

2. The amazingly supportive Robert, who runs the website at Lambda Rising in DC, has put up a bunch of pictures of me at the recent reading there along with a blurb that calls me "wonderfully spirited," and ends, "Her energy is boundless and her writing is just delightful." Okay, then. I'm particularly happy about that boundless energy thing, because I've been wondering... There's a very sweet picture of me and Robert, and he gives ways to order autographed copies. (Also available locally at Pride and Joy.) Also please note: my beloved friend Lynne gave me the shirt I'm wearing at the reading, and I miss her and can't wait to see her!

3. I just got an email from the Oxford American, which begins:

Dear Susan,

I love your fiction and would love to find a way to get your voice (whether
via fiction or nonfiction) into The (new) Oxford American, which has just been resurrected down here in Arkansas.

Can't argue with that! Especially since the description of the upcoming issue goes as follows:

(Winter 2005) This big double issue stars Kaye Gibbons (debuting in THE OA with a new column), Barry Hannah (on encountering Jesus after a near-death experience), Wendy Brenner (on the trail of a snake fanatic), William Bowers (on movies), Billy Collins (two poems), et al.

Plus, their last music issue won a Rolling Stone award and they were giving away signed posters of Lucinda Williams, whose music I love.

Okay, so I haven't quite figured out how to do the list function. Still, things are pretty good.