G & I are going to Burning Man! It's my... [Gollumy rasp] birthday present... to her. Yes, Burning Man & her birthday aren't for another five months -- but tickets sell fast. The first two cheapest tiers of tickets were gone within, like, the first three days that they went on sale. ...Woo-hoo! I advance-planning'd something!

Further out on the horizon: thoughts about a visit to Hawaii in spring 2005 to see land being born. And maybe an all-48-contiguous-states road trip sometime beyond that, with the Smithonian in D.C. being our main destination. ...You can just pick up and travel to places unknown? Crazy!

On the topic of travel, I'd like to give a shout out to our favorite geek cinematography freak (you know whom I'm talking about!) who's off to Connecticut today to scope out a job offer to help with an animated TV show for a year. Leaving his current job and having to do something with his house would both really suck -- but animation work is what has made him most happy in his life. So, I just have to wish him luck. [Damn I'll miss him if he leaves, though.]

Other significant news: there was a special Crisis Line meeting last night, at which we heard final presentations from three candidates for the Executive Director position. Marcia Suttenberg was chosen, and by now should know so. ...I was sad that we couldn't hire Deborah Holton, whom I saw speak back in 1990, and who in some small way helped propell me toward this path of activism. But, given the criteria that had to be respected, we made the necessary choice. Switching EDs -- always a somewhat nervous time -- even if you're confident about the choice you've made.