This is so amazing! I've been reading your recaps and your website for a few years now, and I was just ordering your book for our library a few weeks ago when I got an email saying that you had chosen US for your book drive this year! I remember thinking what a great idea it was when you did it for Oakland, and I can't tell you how much we appreciate it here.

Since people seem to like to hear about where their books are going, I thought I would write and tell you about two of the branches that I know best.

I grew up in the town of Julian, which has about 3000 people and is on top of a mountain to the east of San Diego. It is known for its apple pie (since it gets cold enough there to grow apple trees and even gets a little snow) and for its charming gold-rush era buildings--it was a mining town and was almost the county seat before the gold ran out and most people left in the late 1800s. Nowadays most people in the town depend on tourists from "The City" for their income in one way or another--my parents run a summer camp!

Last year during the fires Julian suddenly became famous and it was really strange to see views on national television that were clearly filmed from the parking lot of my high school! Hundreds of people (and that's a large percentage) lost their houses in the fires but most are rebuilding and still love living in Julian. In fact, they are just finishing work on a brand new library that will be shared by the high school, and is built right where those TV cameras were standing last year. You can see what the new library will look like and the old library (which is in a former one-room schoolhouse) is on our website . Since the new library is many times larger than the old one, they will definitely appreciate new books! (I've looked and I don't think Julian has a wish list yet but I'm sure they will soon.)

Now though, I'm a librarian at the El Cajon branch of the SDCL, and it is about as different from Julian as it is possible to be! El Cajon is one of the largest branches in the system and one of the main reference centers for the county. (Vista is the other.) We answer a lot of the more difficult reference questions from the smaller branches, so we have a much larger collection than most other branches. It is also why we have some very expensive books on our wish list--you wouldn't believe how much things like encyclopedias cost! So if you have any very wealthy readers, send them our way! (We also have lots of regular books on the list as well--I just wanted to explain why we have these ones that cost over $100 as well.)

The El Cajon branch is located in the downtown of a suburb east of San Diego, so we serve a very varied population. I especially enjoy working here because you never know what (or who) will turn up next. There is rarely a dull moment, and we like it that way.

So, thanks again for helping us, and double thanks to everyone who is sending books--you have no idea how wonderful it is to know that there are people all over the world thinking of us and sending us presents!

Also, everyone, don't forget about your local libraries! Call up the librarians and ask a weird question--we like that.

Jenne Bergstrom
Reference and Young Adult Librarian
San Diego County Library, El Cajon Branch
(619) 588-3703

Hi Pamie

Well, I just went crazy and sent a bunch of books to the Lincoln Acres Branch Library. I don't know what happened - I started at their wishlist and it spiraled out from there. I kept thinking of one more book I had to send. Anyway here's the list of what I sent:

Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs : A Book About Ancient Egypt Gail Gibbons; (This was on their wishlist). 
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference  Malcolm Gladwell; (Seemed appropriate -plus it's so interesting!). 
Trixie Belden #1: The Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden, 1)  Julie Campbell; (Childhood favorite of mine). 
His Dark Materials Trilogy: The Golden Compass / The Subtle Knife / The Amber Spyglass [BOX SET]  Philip Pullman; (Blew me away). 
1001 Most Useful English Words for Spanish-Speaking People (Beginners' Guides) Seymour Resnick; (Good reviews, sounded useful and fun). 
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt (Encyclopedia Brown (Paperback)) Donald J. Sobol; (Childhood favorite of mine). 
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Greek Myths  Bernard Evslin; (Who doesn't love the Greek myths?). 
Beauty  Sheri S. Tepper; (Great spin on the classic fairy tale - good for yound adult and adult readers). 
The Partly Cloudy Patriot  Sarah Vowell; (So funny, so smart). 
Oh, Yuck: The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty  Joy Masoff; (All kids love this stuff and it's a great way to learn). 
Jokelopedia  Ilana Weitzman; (I was a total jokebook addict as a kid). 
The Crafty Diva's D. I. Y. Stylebook: A Grrrl's Guide to Cool Creations You Can Make, Show Off, and Share  Kathy Cano Murillo; (Crafting makes me happy!). 
Paper Bag Princess (Munsch for Kids)  Robert Munsch; (sweet, funny story with great message)

Man, that was so fun! I wish I could do it every day!

Thanks Pamie - for all your hard work and humor. I hope you are feeling better soon! Stupid staph obviously doesn't know who it's messing with!

Later!
Allie G

Hi Pamie-

I saw that more libraries were added to your bookdrive, so I decided to send a couple more.  The San Marcos Branch Library will be receiving: 

Diary of a Worm
The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 2)

I took my nieces to their public library this week for the first time and loved how their eyes lit up when they saw all the "free" books.  Every kid should havea great selection of library books to choose from.

-Jennie

I still have a few more donations to put on the list, but I have run out of time today.  Just a reminder that the contest is coming to a close this weekend.  Only two more days to win a free book!  It'd be great to break the 400 mark.  400 books in one month?  That's something to be proud of.

I'm feeling much better these days.  Thanks to everyone for sending such kind words. 

Pamie -

As your book drive for San Diego County Library comes to a close, the community of Rancho San Diego wants to express its sincere thanks for your thoughtfulness and the generosity of your readers. The books we've been sent have built our collection up and provided more of what our customers want and need. If there is anyone still looking for the opportunity to contribute books to our library, the youth services list has been expanded to include several variations on Jack and the Beanstalk, as well as books on the Olympics, something we definitely need more of in this Olympics year!

We continue to be touched by the response to this drive. Thanks to everyone, far and wide!

Sincerely,

Barbara Sutton
Youth Services Librarian
San Diego County Library
Rancho San Diego Branch
11555 Via Rancho San Diego
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-660-6325
www.sdcl.org

...to adequately explain what his night at Scores was like.  It was like a strip club.  Where titties are.  Totally my kind of environment.  TOTALLY.

My friend Wendy tells of it better than I ever could.  What with the pictures and all.

Ew.

I wrote a Fametracker piece!  Do enjoy it.

The best thing about the brilliant Some Kind of Monster is its example that no matter where you are in your career, even if you're living in a mansion and everybody knows your name, as long as you're doing it for the art the challenge is still there.  The fear never goes away and the demons of self-doubt are just as paralyzing.  Success comes with responsibility.  I suppose it could be depressing if you looked at it the other way, that it never gets easier and if you really want to do this for the rest of your life there will never be a day you feel like you're done.  But for me it was two and a half hours of reassurance, a reminder that no matter how lonely and isolated my struggles with my work may feel, this is what everybody goes through and continues to go through at every level. 

 
...and it fucking ROCKED!

Selections from "Famous Ghost Monologues," written and directed by Sarah D. Bunting, will take place over three performances at The Abingdon Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, NYC, from August 5-7, 2004 at 8:00 PM.  Tickets are $15.  The Executive Producers of "Famous Ghost Monologues" are Sarah D. Bunting and Hala Lettieri, with Associate Producer John Chatterton.  Bunting premiered the monologues on her website, Tomato Nation, beginning in April of 2003. 

Vignettes from everyday afterlife, "The Famous Ghost Monologues" draw the veil aside to ask what becomes of the spirit after the body is gone.  The answer: Not a whole lot.  The world of the spirits isn't much different from the world of the living, evidently -- it's just harder to get a library card.  Or a ride.  In the small-town cemetery all of them share, vanishing hitchhikers, Latin teachers, Union soldiers, Harley girls, and frustrated dandies tell their stories -- what happens after death and what doesn't, who they miss, how they pass the time.
 
The cast includes Kellie Aiken, Gita Borovsky, Adam Chimera, John Grady, Alexandra Lynn, Gary Martins, Kelly McConkey, Hala Lettieri, Michael Marion, Richard O'Keeffe, and Jaime-Lynn Regnemer.
 
Tickets are available here, or by calling (212) 868-4444.