Here are some photos of me at the premiere of the film at the Toronto Film Festival. I can honestly say that standing up in front of over 1000 people, most of whom were still drying their eyes, was one of the highlights of my life. This movie is GOOD, people. Really good. Excellent. Amazing performances by Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow, Scott Cohen and more. The young actor who plays William, Charlie Tahan, is awesome. Don Roos rocks my world.

There's a photo here, another one here, and another one here.

And here are Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow looking drop dead gorgeous.

The nutjobs who made this video that I saw on Andrew Sullivan think it's a tragedy, a horror. I think it's a lovely sign of integration.

Yes, I know I suck. I haven't updated in for-fucking-ever. But the thing is, I'm in agony. Back is sore, neck is sore, shoulder is useless. I'm trying to avoid unnecessary computer time, and about all I can handle is the odd tweet. So I apologize. Don't hate me, and don't stop reading. Please.

I had to take a dozen advil in order to write this post, however. Margot Livesey's the House on Fortune Street is so incredible, so gorgeous, so magnificent that if you don't immediately read it, I don't think you and I can continue to be friends. Get thee to a bookstore. And NO, I do not know the author. I happen to know the editor, but the only reason I know that I know her is that I read the acknowledgments, hoping to find someone I knew in them, so that I could call and weep my gratitude for this incredible novel.

I will likely do some of the baking myself, which in and of itself is no reason not to come to our house for tea and cookies (and some wine) on July 11th at 3 pm to meet the incomparable Anthony Woods.

Anthony's been all over the media lately, He gave this interview in the Washington Post, which I think nicely sums up his at once progressive and measured personality and positions. He spoke beautifully at the Pride parade, and even Daily Kos has taken up the charge.

The fundraising quarter ends today, and it's critically important that Tony have a good showing. If you needed a reason to donate to him beyond his intelligence, his service in Iraq, his bronze star, his degrees from West Point and Harvard's Kennedy School, his background growing up the child of a single mother,and the fact that he's African American and gay, here's a little tidbit about the political funding game that you might not know. In the lovely state of California, our politicians periodically get termed out of their jobs and have to either get real ones or go searching for another position to run for. Termed out politicians do not start from scratch when they run for new positions. They are allowed to haul with them the war chests they've accumulated in their previous roles. Now is not the time for me to rant and rave about the ludicrousness of a system that allows, for example, Toxic Waste Dumpers R Us to line the coffers of the very representatives who will make the laws that directly effect their business (how we've come to view this as corporate 'speech' and not simply bribery is beyond me, and I'm willing to bet it would have made the founding fathers spin in their graves). However, this crap-ass system is the one we've got, and because of this, Tony's opponents are entering the race with so much more money than he has that it could make you cry. It should make you cry.

But dry your tears. Donate, instead. If each of us donates 10 bucks (TEN BUCKS. That's all.) we'll give Tony a necessary shot in the arm and we'll send some tremors of anxiety through his opponents. If some of us donate $100? Well then everything changes. That's a lot of money. Game changing money. And if some of us donate $1000? Let me know, and I'll be so thrilled by your generosity I'm sure to inundate you with copies of my husband's books (since I'm sure you already own all of mine).

Pony up, people. You'll change the world. Click on this link.