There isn't much I can do aside from echo Bruce's sentiments on the New Orleans trip. It was astounding, and the people we collaborated with down there were absolutely amazing. Press Street and Rebuilding Together were pivotal in just how successful our reading event was.

I had a blast meeting everyone involved with the book finally. It's quite interesting to read someone's work on such an intimate level over and over again and then finally meet them in person.

The whole trip was the perfect mix of dive-bars and swanky eateries. I had been to New Orleans once before when I was 19 and had always carried with me a sense of the brilliant food and music of the city, but this trip pounded the reality of that sense into me over and over again. Gumbo? I will crave gumbo back in Tokyo.

I know Bruce will be popping back down for more readings next month, and I only wish I could be there as well. New Orleans is not dead by a long shot — and in fact, if the current New Orleans is considered dead, then count half of the cities in America long since deceased.

As you can tell we really wiped ourselves out from the activities — just finally getting photos up from the event and hell, we even missed a Coffee Monday this week, the first in ages. Time to get back in the media makin' saddle.