Luke Ford

A group of Cathy’s best writer friends met for dinner at Rob Long’s home Sunday evening.

After we ate, Rob and Sandra Tsing Loh gathered us (Jill Stewart, Anne Thompson, Luke Thompson, Debbie Gendel, Kate Coe, Moxie, Ruth Shalit and hubby Rob Barrett, Amy Alkon, Mr and Mrs Tim Cavanaugh, Roman Genn) in the living room and we each said a few words about Miss Seipp. Listen here.

My recording missed the first five minutes of introduction by Rob and Sandra.

One freelancer said Cathy was a model of courage who near the end of her life encouraged her to trash Amy Wilentz‘s new book on California even though Amy’s husband Nick Goldberg was the Op/ED Editor of The Los Angeles Times.

I never knew Tim Cavanaugh was an Orthodox Jew. If he technically is not one, then he certainly breeds like one.

Debbie Gendel remembers: "I was inside The Times and Cathy was always revealing things I had said to her… We had a shared disappointment in the promise of this urbane society where everybody would be so witty and everyone was so square…and that’s why we made fun of them."

Rob Long: "I saw her on the Friday before she died and she was still giving me s— about living on the West Side."

Jill Stewart: "She was an insecure writer. I remember her calling me up [circa 2003] and asking how come Allan Mayer was always asking me out to lunch and he never asked her out…"

"We were too embarrassed to ask Allan why he kept asking me out to lunch so we never found out."

One bloke at the Times: "We’re always testing the editorial hierarchy at The L.A. times on the web."

There was a vigorous discussion at The Times about putting Cathy’s death on the front page. She did end up there online.

Ross Johnson: "At the time Cathy was diagnosed with cancer [May 2002], I was going through a severe clinical depression… She said, ‘Find someone really insane to write about and no one will even notice.’"

Ross did, taking on the Anita Busch – Anthony Pellicano story.

Anne Thompson: "Cathy taught me about blogging. I took it up late and it ended up being the most fun, the most gratifying thing in my career."

I shared that I remember two of Cathy’s favorite sayings were, "That’s stupid!" and "You know I’m f—ing right!"

Gary McVey (American Cinema Foundation) remembers when Cathy said to him, "I can’t decide whether you are a master of euphemism or you’re just dishonest."

We remember when Gary’s ACF had to bring in security to calm down Mickey Kaus’s worries that the presence of Little Green Footballs webmaster Charles Johnson would trigger attacks. Cathy was ridiculously proud that she figured out the plainsclothed security guy (who stood about 6’10").

Cathy’s father Harvey lives in Cathy’s house. "I still feel like she’s there…in the backyard and upstairs, sitting in her lawn chair, laughing, talking to her friends."

"As I read her articles, I wish that I could’ve discussed them with her."

"Her dog Linda survives and gets confused… I hear the dog talking to her. One day I was talking with Maia and the dog was staring at Cathy’s chair. We went in and I got the feeling that there was something paranormal there. I think Cathy would’ve been very skeptical of that."

"I’m carrying a little book now called ‘Why God permits evil and how to rise above it,’ [by some guy with a Buddhist-sounding name]… I find some relief in it. There’s magic there, which I don’t think Cathy would’ve liked. Somehow I’m not willing to give up on her."

Ross: "Harvey, I want to thank you. You passed on the gift of honesty."

"Cathy was the most honest woman I ever met."

Sandra Tsing Loh: "That makes me think of Luke. You wrote on your blog that you and Cathy were like a married couple. You weren’t like a married couple. You would say things to each other, and I’d go, I can’t believe they said that, and then you’d have a snack and be friends. I was amazed. Your relationship was amazing."

Moxie wears a dress with the color of Cathy’s blog. "She was a big rescuer of animals and strays…"

Moxie gives me the look.

Rob Long says Cathy should’ve smoked and he imitates the forceful Bette Davis way she could’ve snubbed out a cigarette while writing.

I remember Cathy as the most competitive woman I’ve ever met.

Cathy’s daughter Maia Lazar remembers that her final discussion with her mother was an argument.

The LAPressClub.org has hosted some wild times but none were more poignant than the 1999 awards when the elderly and drunk cartoonist Paul Conrad, while everyone was turning to pay tribute to Robert Scheer, reached over and, in front of his wife and in front of Matt Welch, grabbed Emmanuelle Richard’s succulent ass.

Word.

While I can’t promise that this will happen to you, I can promise that it will not happen to you if you don’t buy a ticket.

Bring the whole family ’cause Paul Conrad’s sober these days and less likely to play grab ass under the table.

From LAPressClub.org:

The LA Press Club’s annual awards are fast approaching, and we want you to be there. We will honor the best in Los Angeles journalism at the gala event at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel on June 16, 2007.

Presenters include Mayor Antonio Villariagosa, Patt Morrison, Sandra Tsing Loh, Kevin Sites, Arianna Huffington, Paula Poundstone, and more. Hosted bar sponsored by Yahoo News!

Tickets start at $130 and sponsorship packages are available. Purchase tickets online ordownload the new 8-Ball/Invitationand fax or mail in your order.

For more information, e-mail Diana or call her at 323-669-8081.