That was something. For all of the stories you hear about authors busting their humps to get word out about their books, I’d say flying to another city and doing five events in three days while eight months pregnant trumps them all. Last night’s party was a fitting, fulfilling end. All of the readers were great, and the crowd actually stuck around on a Sunday night to hear the two bands, which is a rarity. The best moment of storytelling, however, may have come when Judson Claiborne told of his great grandmother, whose husband shot her twice in the face, and she plugged the hole in skull with her thumb and walked to the hospital. It was that kind of night.

Thanks to everyone who came out to any of the many events, and particular thanks to the ludicrous Brian Costello Show with Brian Costello, and the beautiful Writers’ Workspace for hosting Susannah. And of course to the home-away-from-home Hideout. It had been too long.

Earlier this week, it was so cold in Chicago that my mother in Boston heard about it on the morning news, and urged me to take a cab to work. That’s the type of cold that makes Chicagoans miss their friends for months at a time.

But check it out: It’s warmer. It’s even going to get all the way up to 33 degrees, which is practically t-shirt (or in my case, tank top) weather around here. So I would strongly encourage anyone who still reads this blog to come out to the Subterranean tomorrow night to see my newest favorite band, The Pawners’ Society. It’s upstairs, $7, starts at 9pm, and as a double bonus, features the new musical project of Monsignor Paul Hornschemeier, Music Hall. I would call Music Hall one of my newest favorite bands, too, but I haven’t heard them yet. So Paul, if you read this, you’re on notice: I will be ranking you.