THE OTHER SIDE OF CRAIGSLIST

I recently used Craigslist to advertise a room in my house, the third and final room. All you do is post a description, the price, the neighborhood, and upload a few pictures if you have them, and suddenly people are beating down your door to have a look at the place. I must have had at least 12 people respond to the two postings I made, most of which ended up coming over to check it out. Previously I have only used Craigslist to find places, so it was somewhat bizarre to be in the position to choose. I have learned that you should definitely NOT include a picture of yourself. Both pictures I received dissuaded me from even responding to the person. You may call me shallow or petty, but I think everyone is pretty shallow and petty, so no pics. However, people who exhibited some personality in their emails definitely stood out. Also, showing a room to a whole slew of people takes time. Too much time. Especially when people stand you up. In the morning.

In other news, Harry Potter is coming out on Friday. That is not to say he plans to step corporeally from the pages of fiction and declare his deep and decidedly un-Platonic devotion to Ron, but that the next book in JK Rowling’s much vaunted and derided series will debut. I hope to receive my book at The Booksmith on Haight, donning a black cloak and my Slytherin scarf. Perhaps this year I will also finally assemble my Dark Mark projector out of a large flashlight and green filter. No doubt I shall end up attending the ceremonies in my usual schlubby jeans and faded college-era t-shirt. Yet hope springs eternal.

Lastly, I entreat you to appreciate the subtle beauty of the soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, a common flower that graces the evenings of California’s dry places. Its hairy and milky bulb smells vaguely unpleasant, and nothing like soap.