Then We Have a Big Party
For years I was searching for the perfect brand of writing notebook. It had to be compact, relatively inexpensive, have a hard cover (because I write in my lap a lot), and had to lie flat when opened.
Earlier this year I found it — these blue, yellow-paged hardcover notebooks that go for around $6.20. They have 120 pages and are page-numbered, which makes it easier to index the contents. Yes, I index my pages like a good little nerd, something I picked up from Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl.
I’ve been through a couple of these things so far and just bought a third. It takes about six weeks for me to fill each one.
I don’t just write in them — I diagram stuff, make shopping lists, take notes in them, etc.. I’ve got this “One Container” philosophy. And at the end of the day I categorize and dump stuff into my computer.
I wish I could find an Auster-style blue or red notebook though. Those seem so much nicer than these. Plus they may possibly be magic as well.
I am insanely excited about the upcoming Borat movie. However, this has lead to a major problem: I have his folk song, “In My Country There Is Problem (Throw the Jew Down the Well)” stuck in my head.
Yes it is anti-semetic, but it’s just so catchy!
But today I realized that I can make it kosher — yes, I am sorry in advance — by replacing the word “jew” with any other word. It can be “Throw Kim Down the Well” or “Throw Bush Down the Well”. And it can be applied to frustrating situations too, like “Throw the Stalled Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process Down the Well”.
This way we preserve the melody and at the same time make the song PC. Is nice!
My Work in Print
Year Zero
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.com
Cowboy Versus Samurai
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.comFor a complete list of books containing my work, please click here.
5 Comments
Maybe we should sing “Throw wise cracking writers down the well.” Or “Throw people who mock Kims down the well.” I like that song much more.
I’m digging a well as we speak. It will be deep!
My little yellow-paged writing notebook is running out and all they have in Singapore are really fobby notebooks with cute pictures of bears and clouds. So now I write on the flesh of executed people who have been found guilty of public dancing.
Like I’ve said before, I’m sure that Singaporean Footloose will be a big hit in that country.
I, too, wouldn’t mind throwing Kim down the well.