Well, okay, I try not to be all twee, and I save most of my looking-back for New Year's, but, briefly, a few things I'm thankful for: A loving wife, dear friends, continued health, good books, good television, a day job I sometimes love and never hate, and ongoing success with my writing. The universe has been good to me. The successes are large, the setbacks minor, and I'm far more fortunate than most.

There, that's that.

Happy turkey-and-parade-and-football day, all you USAians. Hope you don't have to endure too many family feuds, and that the sweet sleep of tryptophan defuses any stress. I hope I get the opportunity to do my annual reading of "Thanksgiving" by Joyce Carol Oates. It's a great story.

Rick Kleffel is enthusing about Rangergirl. I'm looking forward to meeting him. I think I'll be able to talk more about my love for Santa Cruz than I would in most interviews.

In about an hour we're heading into San Francisco to have dinner with Richard Doyle, his husband Ricky, and various others. Should be a lot of fun. (Richard's art show last weekend was awesome, by the way. I think Heather is going to post some pictures soon, and I'll link when she does.)