Month: October 2004

Halloween

Writer guy

They say thirty one is too old for trick or treating. Then again they also say you’re only as old as you think you are. Now in that spirit, let’s just say someone roughly that age decides that soliciting candy or other tax free donations is a nifty idea. A person of such ilk has a very special need for a costume. Otherwise said trick or trick treater will stick out from the curb.

Here’s some things I, er…someone my age, could dress up as for Halloween:

1) An IRS agent. Already have the cheap brief case, starch shirts and calculator. Audit time, baby!
2) A judge from traffic court – gavels are cheap and I stole, that is neglected to return my graduation gown.
3) A parent collecting candy in proxy for a child. Do you really know your neighbors? Well, a dark and stormy night is no time for introductions that might warp fragile minds. Dad or Mom should take the risk and reap the bounty instead.
4) A cult member. There’s no easier moment to recruit for INSERT CULT of CHOICE HERE than when the whole family expects someone else.
5) A librarian. It’s a good opportunity to demand all occupants return overdue books, particularly ones they never checked out.

I’m leaning strongly towards number three, that is if I did consider trick or treating acceptable for someone my age.

Reflection on rejection

Writer guy

Rejection has its place. For awhile I kept my rejection letters, scanning them once, never to revisit them. Few writers do, although there’s some who think it’s a nifty idea to post them on their web sites, complete with the name of the publisher, editor or agent that turned them down. But I had my pile, and then it hit me, why the hell keep these? These letters are the equivalent of bills already paid. I don’t keep paid bills around.

So I shredded’em. Just like nuking any other useless piece of paper, there was zero emotional response.

And that was the cool part for me, that it meant absolutely nothing to get rid of them. Why should it? They’ve already served their purpose.

I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong – I’m writing.