Where's my Lexus?

A few months ago I got tapped for a interesting writing assignment. Lexus magazine had selected nine writers to create a serial story of a young couple, Julia and Terrence, as they drive cross country in a new Lexus. (literary heavyweights Jane Smiley, Mary Otis, Brian Antoni among others, and yes, I have no idea how I was included.) Guidelines were minimal. They just wanted to make sure there was no car crashes, which seemed reasonable. The idea was that each writer would pick up where the other left off, without any consultation. Just wing it. Like a long drive without a map. A great gig, with lots of randomness.

My selection, called "In the Belly of the Beast," was the seventh chapter. I set it in my favorite town, Las Vegas. All the other writers, focused on the two main characters. I decided to use the point of view of an angry, sweaty man in a gorilla suit, the greeter-mascot at Me Tarzan, You Jane Wedding Chapel. He's cursing his lot in life, snarling at the fat tourists staggering down the strip, when the Lexus pulls up to the chapel. Yes, Terrence and Julia are getting married.

A good time was had.

I'm on NPR tomorrow

Just taped a Weekend America segment for NPR. It will be broadcast nationally tomorrow October 11. Times and stations here.

The half-hour segment was hosted by John Moe. My two co-panelists were Stacy Grenrock Woods, sex advice columnist for Esquire and Tak Toyoshima, cartoonist.

We talked about the second presidential debate, whether the US government should take over banks, and electronic eavesdropping. My favorite part was when we argued over whether, as claimed by the NY Times, calling elderly people "sweetie" and "dear" was patronizing them to death. As in, killing them. Taking seven years off their lifespan. Really. Tak said that's why he's always rude to old people. He's trying to save them. It was fun.