(This first part more or less stolen from Tim's own webpage, so if you've heard this already and are going to come, skip to the line.)

For those of you who don't read Tim's page, he's doing a reading at Borderlands Books in San Francisco this Sunday, March 21, at 2 p.m. If you're local, please come. He'll read from his story "Terrible Ones," which is in the new issue of The Third Alternative (which should be showing up in stores any day now), and sign copies of Little Gods (and anything else people bring, not that he has anything else, except chapbooks, which in most cases were already signed in the first place, but anyway). If you've been waiting to buy the trade paperback, now's your chance. It's cheaper than the hardcover, and has Tim's name on the cover! And you should support Borderlands, because it's an absolutely marvelous indie bookstore. So come. It'll be a good time.

Details, directions, etc. here:

www.borderlands-books.com/about_events.html

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So, the other day I decided to wear my green straw hat, which is ever so much more beat-up and funky looking than the nice new black sun hat. I'm very fond of the green hat, as no one has a hat like it AND it fits over ponytails and buns, which the black hat just doesn't.

Anyway.

As I was locking the door to our building a short man came staggering up to me. He was missing most of his front teeth, walked as if he'd been drinking, and spoke in such a slur/ accent I could barely understand him. He said hello and I smiled and responded.

Sigh. That's my problem right there, I'm just too nice.

However, he didn't smell like alcohol, and he was talking about getting off work (he's a roofer, I think), so I didn't do anything drastic/ mean to dissuade him from walking beside me... all the way to BART.

Sigh. Thing is, he didn't ask for money or say anything rude at all (well, I suppose he might of and I just couldn't understand it; about 80% of what he said I just nodded or made noncommital noises to). He seemed so happy that I was being nice to him. He kept calling me "American lady". When we finally parted ways, he asked for my phone number; I showed him my engagement ring and said, "Nope, sorry, I'm married."

THANK GOD FOR THAT RING!

Anyway, I went into Walgreens and bought some Claritin and on my way out, a different guy said something to me. I gave him a look, but didn't say anything because I wasn't sure what he'd said. He then followed me to the top of the stairs to the BART station, saying stuff like "It's early yet, we could have a good time."

Yeah, I don't think I'd be having a good time with you, buddy.

Anyway, the green hat seems to get more comments than the black one.

Earlier today an elderly lady commented on my hat. She was wearing one too (she's sun blind), and she commented, "It used to be all us ladies wore hats; now we're the exception."

It's probably just that -- it makes me stand out from the crowd, like I'm wearing a big freakin' billboard on my head that draws people to me.

Also: I'm too nice.