Well, two bits of stuff today for you faithful in Mammyland. First, not for the faint of heart, Rex Havoc sent this to me (although rumor has it a certain Mr. Josh had his hands in introducing it). It's the most horrible, most painfully funny thing I've ever seen. That's right, it's plastic-wrap fetish stories about, of all people, Roy Orbison. I am sooooooooo not making this up. Check out the haiku section (again, not making it up...) for a good laugh while dry heaving. I certainly hope these folks realize that poor Roy has passed on. If not, well, it's too horrible to even consider.

Please, don't read this if you think I'm kidding. I don't want letters from angry parents or folks scarred for life for reading what they think to be some twisted ruse. God help us all.

Secondly, I got this little tidbit o' joy in the mail. Seems the last place I sent out the "novel packet" (usually consisting of the first chapter, "Dinnertime," and a cover letter/synopsis) was finally reviewed and turned into recycling scrap paper. (For an example of what not to do, check out this earlier entry listed under "Publishings Triumph of the Will") On the back of the form letter I found this:



Now, maybe it's just there thing to throw a little encouragement to the rabble, but I'd like to take it as a sign that there are people in this world who "get it." Even if it may not be the life-changing tome that the world may be looking for (because, you know, the world is stupid...) but on a preliminary skim "All Things Right and Beautiful" is at least fun. I think the more of it people read the more they'll see past the glib slyness and see something a bit more appreciable, but for now, fun'll do. At least it's something I can put on the back book cover, right?

So I soldier on, trying to decide what the next move(s) should be and plugging away at any number of projects in the meantime... and trying to remove the image of Roy Orbison in shrink wrap from my head.
God help us... every one.
We need it.

-Joe