Dave, Erma, Brett and Ziggy

I love receiving comments from readers. Positive, negative, it's all good. I think too much stroking causes a persons development to stifle, and too much negativity ? Well, it's just mean man! I got one the other day from an anonymous reader that suggested I read Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg. She said I sort of reminded her of Ms. Flagg. The great thing is, I already have a copy of that book. Of course there aren't many books I don't have a copy of. I haven't read it yet, but I did manage to fish it out of the library overflow and move it closer to the top of the read pile.

So far I've been compared to Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, Brett Butler and Ziggy on account of my luck, and a few other cartoons. I loved Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. My favorite part was when they served up my ex-husband as a blue plate special. A fitting end for such a pig, don't you think? So I am honored by the suggested similarity to Fannie Flagg. I only hope I can live up to it. Her books are most excellent.

I recently finished a ghost writing job and decided not to take on anymore so I could focus on work I will get credit for in the future. I'm free! It feels so liberating. Like the halter top revolution.

When I get those emails or posted comments it tells me a lot. Right off it says the person read the whole thing even though they didn't have to on account of it being required reading. It also says that they were provoked into an action. Cool! I've never used the word provoke before in a positive manner. It felt kind of weird. So I smile and utter to myself and the collection of cartoon characters staring down at me from the top of my monitor, "It couldn't have been too awfully boring then."

I'm a bit creative in my use of the English language; I'm not quite Snoop Doggish though. I developed that little flaw in my literacy out of boredom. They say, write what you know and write how you talk, so I'm being true to myself, minus the doodles. To the English Lit Major my writing is probably more accurately described as being something along the line of fingernails on the chalkboard during finals. I never claimed to be a poet even though I do write a lot of poetry. It's one of my vent valves. I let off accumulated pressure by writing some Dr. Seussish love poems, also minus the doodles.

I suppose not getting to take those new high tech computer graphics labs pushed me in a direction I wouldn't have otherwise explored thoroughly, writing. I remember trying to stick it out year after year in the Art department waiting for them to get that lab. I really wanted to animate cartoons. I still do. I was never meant to attend that class. Fate decided the only way to keep me out was to make sure it never opened until after I left the campus to finish out my career as single mom. I never got to go back like I had hoped.

I just wanted to say thanks for making the world a nicer place one anonymous email at a time. Critique away, they shape us creative types in a positive way, unlike over-eating, divorce court or really rotten neighbors.
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3/19/2005 11:53 PM