Bn Lng Tm Bn Lng Tm Bn Lng Lnly Lnly Lnly Tm

I started writing a play last night. It's a straight play, comparable to GB Shaw I think, as opposed to the avant garde stuff I like by, like, Ric Royer or Theresa Columbus. One interesting thing about playwrights that aren't superfamous is that they can be very popular in a city but elsewhere unknown. Playwrights are cool because they aren't like bands so much because you can't download their plays and they aren't like fiction writers because you can't buy their plays in journals.

My play is sad. It was inspired by this summary of a movie I haven't seen called Run Fatboy Run, "Dennis is a clueless and slightly overweight guy, who left his pregnant fiancée five years earlier. Every day, Dennis tries to persuade the woman he loves to accept him back into his life, but everyday he fails."

In my play, Roger realizes he doesn't want the woman back. He's explaining this to Gretchen on their first date. Gretchen is the first person he's really talked to since leaving his fiancee at the altar years earlier. Here's a bit. This takes place right after the obnoxious server (who has the same name as the protagonist and, inexplicably, carries a balloon) has left with their drink order.

GRETCHEN:
That was weird.
ROGER:
Me and the Rog.
G:
You handled it nicely.
R:
Thanks, I was feeling really awkward.
G:
Tell me about it. What’s with the balloon?
R:
Now I feel more at ease than I thought I would.
G:
I feel really good.
R:
That is, I thought I was going to be horribly nervous.
G:
Everyone is at first.
R:
But I feel pretty okay.
G:
That’s good. I’m glad.
R:
Do you? Feel okay, I mean.
G:
Yes, I guess I could be more nervous.
R:
I think this is going really good.
G:
Yes.
R:
I have a sincere dislike for negative feelings.
G:
You seem like a positive guy.
R:
I’m not.
G:
What?
R:
Hey again.

The Server has returned with a cocktail and a bottle of cheap beer. He gives the rum and coke to Gretchen and the Coors to Roger, who is confused.

SERVER:
You won’t believe this.
R:
What’s the straight dope, Roger?
S:
Well, I remembered I forgot if you wanted a Bass beer or the fish special we have going on.
G:
Bass, the fish special or Bass, the beer.
S:
Right, you see the problem.
R:
So you brought me a Coors Light?
S:
The fish is really nice. I think it’s in a lime sauce.
R:
But I don’t see how the Coors figures.
S:
That was a joke.
R:
What? Yeah.
S:
I’ll be right back with your drink. [exits]
G:
So weird.

Where have I been? I've been playing football.




Here's another part of the play, just for wtf. It won't make any sense. This comes after Roger has told Gretchen about running out on his pregnant fiancee.

GRETCHEN:
I think you have some interesting opinions on the stuff we talked about tonight. I mean, like feminism and the media.
ROGER:
I’m just a regular guy, I hope.
G:
At my age, women have to lower their standards if they want to date anyone at all.
R:
I feel like I killed that baby. That fetus.
G:
Women have to date baby killers, too. I’m not being flip. Everyone is partly normal.
R:
Society is doomed.
G:
Chow mein noodles.
R:
I’m sorry?
G:
Not bok choi.
R:
Oh, okay, right.

Here's another thing I want to tell you. I'm working on pre-order schemes for the next three PG titles. Editing on Shane Jones's book is going great. It's really fun. The PDF Chapbook collection is almost done with layout. I'm a little behind on that one. Rupert Wondolowski's 52-page collection of poems is with the excellent proofreader that is awesome, Chris Toll.

Baltimore Is Reads, it's posted around town, needs to be posted more. I have pictures but I want to wait till it's around town more before I make the website. If you're in Baltimore and you see some, will you let me know?

Michael asked do I still have my mustache. Sure do: