Month: September 2007

I channel surfed past a clip of Jeff Foxworthy at around the same time I was trying to think of what I’d do for my next “But I Digress.”

And I put the two together.

You know his whole “You might be a redneck..” thing? Like, “If your parents met at a family reunion, you might be a redneck.” Well, Skrulls have green necks, which is close. So here’s the challenge: In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy, come up with those little hints that might make you come to the realization that you might well be a Skrull. If I get enough of them, I’ll make a column out of it.

PAD

UPDATE 9/14–I’M NOT SURE WHY THIS ENTRY DOUBLE POSTED, BUT SINCE WE’VE REPLIES TO BOTH, I’M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN CONSOLIDATE THEM. SO FOR SANITY’S SAKE, PLEASE POST YOUR RESPONSES TO THIS ONE AND IGNORE THE ONE BELOW. IF GLENN CAN WORK HIS MAGIC TO PUT THEM TOGETHER, I’M SURE HE WILL. (Further update: Glenn has locked the comments thread on the other one while he tries to figure out how to migrate them here. Glenn will aslo stop talking about himself in third person any minute now. –GH)

I channel surfed past a clip of Jeff Foxworthy at around the same time I was trying to think of what I’d do for my next “But I Digress.”

And I put the two together.

You know his whole “You might be a redneck..” thing? Like, “If your parents met at a family reunion, you might be a redneck.” Well, Skrulls have green necks, which is close. So here’s the challenge: In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy, come up with those little hints that might make you come to the realization that you might well be a Skrull. If I get enough of them, I’ll make a column out of it.

PAD

May most of you be inscribed in the hardcover edition of the Book of Life, while for a handful, the trade paperback edition should suffice.

(I have no idea what that means, but it amuses me. Worst comes to worst, I can always atone for it next week.)

PAD

Anything I could say about recollections of the day, I’ve already said in previous years.

So this year I’m simply moved to ask…

…anyone feeling safer?

PAD

So we had a low key birthday for Kathleen today. I let her sleep as late as she wanted, and in the afternoon we went out to a local Renfair (we may go to the big one in Tuxedo, NY next Saturday; haven’t decided yet.)

Tonight after dinner and her birthday cake we’re going to throw one of her birthday presents into the DVD player–the “Saviour of the Universe” edition of one of her favorite kitschy films, “Flash Gordon.”

It’s little celebrations like this that just serve to remind me of how lucky I am to have her in my life.

PAD

I was sitting at my table in Artists Alley signing away, which is pretty much what I was doing whenever I wasn’t on a panel or heading to or from a panel. And someone brought me copies of “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” to autograph.

And there was Ringo’s signature on several of the covers.

I just stared at them. It took a long tme for me to be able to pick up my marker and write my name as well.

It was the first time that I’d ever found myself looking at the autograph of a co-worker on a series who’d passed away…certainly a co-worker who was younger than I.

I still have no earthly idea why it wasn’t the other way around. That it wasn’t the health-conscious Mike who was looking at my signature while I, who’d been carrying so much extra weight for so long, had succumbed to the heart attack I’d so blithely invited.

I know it’s one of those things where you’re just supposed to believe there’s a reason for all this. More and more, though, I’m moved to think that it’s just further proof that life is random, unpredictable, and unfair. Then again, as William Goldman wrote in “The Princess Bride,” No one ever said life is fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all.

PAD

Just as a reminder, “Heroes In Training,” the new short story anthology featuring a novella-length new Apropos adventure, “Sir Apropos of Nothing and the Adventure of the Receding Heir,” hits bookstores this weekend (and can also be ordered through Amazon as per the link elsewhere on this page.) Check it out.

PAD