My bumbling through life—the result of which is this book—couldn’t have happened without the great many people who lent a hand along the way. Therefore, my deepest gratitude goes out to my mom, Sally Jordan, my siblings—Cathie, Johnny, Joe, Sheila—and to Aaron Walburg, Alex Hestoft, Alexis Buss, Alisa Dix, Andy Upright, Ann Cavness, Ann Sterzinger, Bob Helms, Bob Liek, Brian Bagdonas, Caitlin Troutman, Chris “Brutus” Christman, Colleen McNeilly, Craig Piper, Dameon Waggoner, Dan Benavidez, Dave Hernandez, David Naylor, Don Godwin, Doug Biggert, Doug Rogers, Ducky DooLittle, Edith and Rob Abeyta, Elaine Riegler, Elaine Koplow, Emily Elders, Eric Bagdonas, Fred Allen, Gina Amann, Grant Grober, Greg Davis, Greg Pierce, Hawthorne Hunt, Hector Welch, Ira Glass, Jake Springfield, Janelle Hessig, Jeanne M., Jeff Grimes, Jeff Kelly, Jeff Shelton, Jen Dolan, Jennifer Phistry, Jeni Matson, Jess Hilliard, Jim Thompson, John Gerken, Jon Sadler, Josh Baker, Julie Shapiro, Julie Snyder, Karl Jayne, Kathleen “Beanie” Keller, Kathy Jensen, Kathy Molloy, Kerry McCrackin, Lara Mulvaney, Larry Naylor, Leroy Miles, Lucas Bennett, Miss Lindsey, Marianne Combs, Megan Kelso, Melanie Brown, Melody Jordan, Michelle Bergstrom, Ned Simonson, Nell Zink, Paul Curran, Paul Tough, Pete Menchetti, Phil Snyder, Sammy Travis, Sara Sandberg, Sarah Boonstoppel, Satchel Raye, Scott Eggert, Scott Gregory, Scott Huffines, Sean Tejaratchi, Shelley Brannan, Stephen Duncombe, Steven Svymbersky, Suzy O’Brien, Sven Holmberg, Tanio Klyce, Tess, Tony Peterson, Tony Slad, the entire Tuepker family, and, of course, especially Amy Joy and Ferris.
Special thanks to Erin Yanke and Rebecca Gilbert for their many years of forwarding my mail and to Cheryl Wagner and Chloe Eudaly for their many years of support and encouragement. And thanks to the four people in particular who made this book happen: my writing mentor Lisa Friedman, my agent David McCormick and my editors Jill Schwartzman and Amy Baker.
My gratitude goes out to everyone else who ever provided me with a couch or a floor to sleep on, let me bum a ride from them, corresponded with me, printed or photocopied (licitly or illicitly) issues of the Dishwasher zine and, in general, endorsed my quest. Without you, I would’ve been just another dope trying to dish in all fifty states.