New One at the Austinist: Duty and the Beasts

Here's my latest at the Austint.

If you like it, you know what to do.
Thanks,
spike

Dick Monologues Strikes Again!

Tomorrow, April 23rd, Shakespeare's Birthday, the Dick Monologues strikes again at the Hyde Park Theatre. There are still tickets left. It's $12 and a bargain at twice that price. Doors 6:30, show 7. Email me at spike@spikeg.com to make reservations. And please help spread the word.

Thanks,
spike

The New York Times and Me

I have the tiniest little article in the New York Times Magazine today. I just love getting in the mag-- this is maybe the sixth time? And that's over many years of trying, pitching, and either being rejected flat out for a pitch or researching a topic only to have it later not make it in.

The funny thing about this piece is that NYT asked if they could syndicate it to 2000 newspapers and I get money every time it runs somewhere. Now, it's possible no one else will run it. And-- a girl can dream-- it's possible 2000 papers will pick it up. Just funny to me the potential for this itty bitty piece to earn me more than what some much longer, much more difficult to write pieces have netted me.

Anyway, most importantly, it's a thrill. And hey, I got to interview Lance Armstrong, adding to the list of world champion athletes including Tony Hawk and Kelly Slater I've had the odd opportunity to speak to (given my total lack of athletic skill and the fact I'm not a sports reporter).

New Austinist Post: Soupy Sales

New one is up at Austinist. I'm still having link woes. You can go to www.austinist.com and scroll down if you want to see it. This week, I'm dodging the bullets of pig wrestling (hopefully) with a nice interview about the creative class with the Soup Peddler.

If you like it, please recommend it.
Thanks,
spike

God Bless the Teller

A couple of weeks ago, some dude writes a letter to the Chronicle, panning the Dick Monologues. So I call him (his number is online) and ask if he's seen the show. No. Surprise, surprise.

Now, some guy is posting comments to my most recent Austinist post in which I discuss how I didn't appreciate Henry's high school principal's response to my concerns about a bullet Henry found in school. And how I also was alarmed to learn a gun was found a week later at the school. This guy claims to know me based on having worked at the same company as me ten years ago. I cannot for the life of me remember the guy and seriously doubt we ever had a conversation. But he felt it important to note this "connection" of ours, presumably to lend weight to his argument that I'm a nutcase using a bully pulpit to get Henry's absence excused.

Initially, I took his bait, responding to his first post. I know how stupid this is-- I've been online for about twelve years, used to run message boards for Prodigy, and, as I told the guy in yet another post I made, really one should never wrestle with the pigs, seeing as you both get dirty and the pigs love it. So I'm dirty now, because I wrestled with him not once, not twice, but three times.

Here's a guy with no experience as a parent, let alone the parent of a teenager, questioning my legitimate concerns for my child's well being and, in fact, for the well being of all the students in the school. Anyway, it's been a big bullshit tit for tat exchange and, as noted, I'm one muddy mother.

That said, oh bless the serendipitous universe, after I foolishly posted my last comment, as if this would bring sudden enlightenment to the guy, I headed off to the bank to make a deposit. At my bank, you don't see the tellers in real life, they pop up on little video screens. So I send my deposit up the tube chute thingie (wasn't that a ZZ Top song?) and after a bit my teller shows up on the screen and we have a conversation that goes a little like this:

Her: I have to ask you. Are you the blogger?

Me: I am. Which blog?

Her: The Austinist?

Me: Funny you mention that. I've been catching hell for my last post.

Her: About the school?

Me: Yeah.

Her: I was in high school when school shootings started happening. That is scary.

Me: Thanks.

Her: Sure. I'm just excited it's you! (makes "yeah" gesture with hand clenched while pulling elbow back.)

So yeah. There you go. The bank teller thinks guns are scary, too.

Austinist Post Up: Gun at Henry's School

The editor who posts my piece for the Austinist decided to edit out the contact information I originally included for the principal of my son's high school, lest I be pegged as vindictive. But I wasn't being vindictive. If you want his contact info, just let me know.

Meanwhile, the post is here:

I Am So Popular: Don't Shoot, Shoot, Shoot That Thing At Me

If you dig it, please recommend it.
Thanks,
spike

The Dick Monologues Rises Up Again

Hello Everyone,
PLEASE! Come see The Dick Monologues. Next show:

Wednesday, April 23rd, Hyde Park Theatre, 43rd and Ave A.
Doors 6:30. Show 7. Tickets $12. Reservations: spike@spikeg.com

Hope to see you there,
spike

The Child Seriously Rocks

Henry played a benefit gig for Youthspin the other night. That's the KOOP radio show he works on. He is now up to three bands and two of those played. Actually, one of the bands, Popular Culture, is just Henry. Except for he tells the audience they're all part of the band. And then, like a fledgling religious cult leader, he gets them to do all sorts of things that he barks at them through the microphone. Very cool. Also, his band Sea Fields of Elephants plays. This band features, among other members, Max, with whom Henry has his third band (the first one he was ever in) cleverly known as Max & Henry. Please note, in the Sea Fields pictures below, the lovely Ant Helmet worn by the drummer. I acquired several ant suits for the band on Sunday when I helped some friends move and they just happened to have a bunch of ant costumes they were ready to part with. Hopefully the boys will wear the full costumes on stage soon. Thanks to Hen's dad, Big Red, for taking these fine pictures.

I Am So Popular: Classy Lady

Hooray-- my yesterday column for the Austinist just posted today.

Here it is:

I Am So Popular: Classy Lady

If you like it, please hit recommend.
Thanks,
spike

Blog Hopping

Wait, have we already gone over how incredibly self-indulgent blogging is? If I stop to think about it it's enough to make me not blog. But what the hell, in the interest of reaching out, getting attention, and building a damn internet empire, I boldly forge ahead.

Today, I encourage those among the six of you who are interested, to check out the post I just put up over at www.sloppyquilter.com about how I became a sloppy quilter. No, really, it's riveting.

because i don't have enough blogs already

as noted earlier, i got a contract to do another quilting book. i know some people think it's a little odd that i would go from writing punk rock memoirs about men who bug the shit out of me to happy tomes about sewing but, you know, odder things have happened. i love quilts. i love quilters. i'm a terribly sloppy quilter. and hence, the name of the new blog: www.sloppyquilter.com if you quilt, or have friends who quilt, you or they might want to tune in. in addition to chronicling my own misadventures in quilting (you mean i have to learn how to IRON?) i am hoping to profile other real quilters and post pictures of their work. so bring it, people. help me out here.
thanks,
spike