Well the good news is that the crew and I are alive. Bad news is, well, we had a hotel fire last night. Two floors kinda burned down.

Here's the skinny: We went to dinner and when we got back to the hotel were really annoyed at the fire trucks surrounding the block, preventing our movement. But then I got closer and realized it was Our Hotel; and closer, and realized it was My Floor and…well…um…it started in My Room. Oops.

Michael Gross

Not my fault! One of those crazy-do-it yourself, built-in Kiwi stoves went ballistic. Litigiously paranoid that I am, have we paid our insurance premium lately? I got surrounded by hotel security fellows and got the full-on good cop/bad cop let's-make-the-girl-cry routine. It almost worked.

In case the insurance folks want to know, I lost everything, including my black polyester Wranglers and the journal where I write caffeine-induced epiphanies. I'm sure they won't appreciate the subtleties of such losses.

Also lost:

• Mac G3 laptop with all my interview notes (oy)
• Handspring electronic organizer (never figured out how to use it anyway)
• Two pieces of luggage — Filson (damn, best I'll ever own)
• and all clothes…
• full set of lingerie
• books (always a travesty)
• camera — Canon Elf — cute but ineffective… got enough cameras on this shoot anyway.
• cd Walkman with favorite Trini Lopez (a.k.a. Lemon Tree) tape inside (irreplaceable)
• tape Walkman w/Maori language tape inside (so much for cultural sensitivity)
• leather jacket (PETA folks will be happy)

I'll borrow a shirt from Liza as we're loaded up with divas for the next few days. No time for shopping. We figure hotel-burning is bad karma and have decided to sleep in our caravan, 'Old Sheila,' from here on out. Will be good for bonding and the budget anyway…ever the optimist, and ever onward… .

love, Hol.

p.s. Skydancer survived! she was in the apparently fireproof bathroom. her tutu got kinda sooty but she lives to fly again.