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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Friends,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My apologies for the form/spam
note; this is not something I've ever done before, or will probably ever do
again. Since I don't even know <I>where</I> some of my correspondents live, my
address book is the only practical way to reach everyone who might be
interested. If you're outside the Seattle area, you can pretty much quit reading
if you want, since this is about a rare event in Seattle next week...</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My 50th birthday!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As many of you know, it's an
extremely unlikely as well as significant milestone, since I've been battling a
terminal illness since 1991, with a stubborn refusal to let it be, you know,
terminal. So it seemed like an event worth celebrating. With you.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But I'm not celebrating it. My
friends at <B>Eat the State!</B> (a community newspaper I helped start in 1996,
and which I still work with) are using the occasion to throw a benefit party. A
roast. Of me. (Plus cake, desserts, and the usual party frivolities.) It's a
cool idea. I think. I guess I'll find out. :-)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Among the roasters: Knute Berger
(of Crosscut & KUOW); Brita Butler-Wall (former Seattle School Board<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>president); David Goldstein
(HorsesAss.org); Tim Harris (Real Change); ETS! stalwart (and former housemate,
back in the day) Lansing Scott; and, of course, Maria Tomchick and Mike
McCormick of KEXP and Eat the State!. (It's Mike I'm especially worried
about...)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">It should be a lot of fun. If
you're in the Seattle area, please come! It'll be in the social hall at
<B>University Baptist Church, 47th & 12th NE </B>in Seattle's University
District. Tickets <B>$15 or 2/$25, all proceeds going to ETS!</B> Doors open at
<B>7 PM</B>. Hope to see you there!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">cheers</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Geov</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">PS For the love of all that is
good and holy, no gifts, please! (Thanks.)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>