On Crack and other stories

Sorry was absent, work has been crazy. Last week sent off a 25 page legal argument regarding pollock fishing in Alaska (you can't believe the regulations). This week I am doing a similar dissertation to try and talk redevelopment in doing the right thing for my client, Leola King, an 84 year old black woman who was one of the first nightclub owners (and one of the most successful AND the only woman) in the Fillmore District in San Francisco in the 1950's. Redevelopment took 11 of her properties by eminent domain and gave her nothing, zippo. She has a certificate of convenience that's it...which means that if she doesn't get a property within a year (when the official close the redevelopment region) she's hosed.

She is one of my heroes as I have been researching this area for over a year now for my next book. Just like me (hence "on crack" following on Vicky's fairly accurate blogerization) to have the ideal client walk in after all the research to walk me through my next book. She gave me a photo of herself with Josephine Baker from the 50's in her club. It is my proudest possession (next to my Nolan Ryan shrine).

I spent the weekend working in the office, on my book or reorganizing my closet so I feel I can spent a minute or two on the blog. I'm meeting my Dad and Susie for lunch on a layover on their trip to Europe.

So I have a good story for you -- this will be quick. The other night, Jess and I are down at the Argus, which is our local, and we're talking with Applejack, a older blues player who hangs out there when he isn't on the road here or in Europe. He's a lovely fellow, has stayed in our house in New Orleans, etc. Anyway, he introduces me to a young cartoonist, Jose Ruiz, who has recently published a comic book, working on a movies, etc. I find out with probing questions that he is "homeless" or rather living off the largess of his friends. I rememeber doing that myself in North Beach in San Francisco, in between jobs, trying to write, having my infrastructure go to hell several times. So I drag him home (up the hill actually) and put him in our upstairs room that is being renovated but not right at the moment, but a temporary respite. Of course, then his girlfriend breaks up with him (although he seems to have lots of girlfriends) and this week he's spending a week in Austin, Texas (where he's from) doing some kind of drawings for Willie Nelson.

"Clear Cut" (the first book) is coming along. I think the first 100 pages are done essentially and I need to work on the last 100 hundred, smooth them out, finish a sub plot, and then edit. I am hoping I can do a lot this coming weekend as we're camping up in Mendocino -- no phones, emails, bullshit, just oxygen and lots of wine.

Don't forget you can put up interesting links, add photos and other kinds of content to the blog so add some pics!