…and it is I. This press release went out all over the world today, with this loverly photo. Alameda Sun Names PublisherFounding editor returns as publisher, exec editorALAMEDA, CA: The Alameda Sun and its parent corporation, Stellar Media Group, Inc., have named Julia Park Tracey as publisher and executive editor of the newspaper. Tracey will also oversee book publishing, business development and marketing, event management and community outreach. Tracey is the founding editor of the Alameda Sun and is also one of the owners of the publishing company. “We are glad to have Julia back at the helm,” said Eric Turowski, CEO and general manager of the Sun. “She brings…

Back into the real world, despite my second bad cold of the season (which started Sept 1 for me, I think), and a case of itchies in all the raw places (inside elbows, behind knees, inside wrists, back of neck, lower side-back, throat under ears…lovely). I ended up missing Sunday-Wednesday, a half-week right in the deathmarch before Literati, and ack, ack, ack, I am on the verge of panic. But who cares? It will be OK. Right? Right? Movies watched = zero. I’ve seen most of them and couldn’t get inspired enough to re-watch anything, not even Jane Austen. Books read = Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill;…

…yet again. Ana has had strep and I thought I had it but the doc says no, just another cold. Fabulous… movies watched = zero episodes of CSI = about 7, I think sports watched [it was on, the Man was watching, I was slipping in and out of consciousness] = parts of Sunday Night Football, the Whoozits vs the Whatzits (you couldn’t pay me to remember, kind of out of it. But the Whoozits won, I think.) Game 7 of Cleveland vs Red Sox, and I did see the last home run and final inning. Red Sox. [halfhearted cheer…..zzzzzz] books read = almost finished The Desire of the Everlasting…

e-mail received today: Hi Julia, I’m pleased to announce East Bay Monthly has been nominated for an Utne Independent Press Award! (thre press release follows…) UTNE READER ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR 19th ANNUAL UTNE INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARDS 2007; 111 STANDOUT PUBLICATIONS MAKE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND Minneapolis, MN (October 18, 2007) –Utne Reader has officially announced its nominees for the magazine’s 2007 Independent Press Awards, which honors the very best in independent media from the pool of more than 1,300 sources Utne uses to cull its content. Among the 111 nominees selected were old favorites as well as a number of newcomers. Utne will announce the winners in January/February…

I like the rain. I just hate driving in it. Out here at the Base, I pretend that I live in Scotland, and then the gray gloom doesn’t bother me so much. I love the Canada geese flying overhead, honking, as if they’re going somewhere important. They’re not, but their instincts tell them it’s time to fly in formation, so they gather, spread wings, and take off, fly a couple of hundred yards, then settle downon the grass to eat and poop some more. Life as a goose. It’s not so hard. I’m in the midst of last-minute Literati scheduling and PR-ing. Madness, I tell you. The living room is…