Okay, so it's true - my first mean comment wasn't that mean. I wasn't, like, staying up all night shattered or anything, don't get the wrong idea. My able readers have put me in my place pointing out that I need to get a thicker skin (okay, okay, I was exaggerating my pain) and otherwise contributing to the discussion. There are two comments I want to address here of the 6 I received (a record!) plus a few more on my facebook page.

First from Mark, the original 'mean' comment creator. He writes: "So, what did I mean by personal risk? It seems to me that if we are going to explore this “new realm” of socializing, we cannot just sit back and watch, but actually participate as well. If that means allowing the unseen, unwashed masses, a long stare into what makes Hal Niedzviecki tick, isn't that worth it? And ultimately, wouldn't that produce a better book (not one to collect dust like so many coffee table tomes)?"

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. I want to experience this "new realm" and I'm doing my best to get into it even though much of it goes against my nature. Unlike Mark, a writer and a publisher I remember from the days when I used to write zine reviews for Broken Pencil, I rarely write in the first person and in my stories and novels no one ever confuses my characters with me. To be completely honest, I think that's one of the reasons those books haven't exactly broken any records at the box office if you know what I mean (or maybe they just weren't that good). At any rate, in the peep age we want to connect directly to the person behind the persona and don't seem to have any patience for stories that don't have the ring of truth, the aura of authentic autobiography. So Mark, I say go with it: if people want to confuse you with your character, it's to your advantage to play along. And as for me, I'm going to keep trying to give the readers of this blog "the long stare" and hopefully come out the other end both a better writer and someone better able to write about what makes not just Hal tick but our entire peep culture.

The other comment I wanted to quote verbatim here is from Nancymarie, whose blog is a really excellent example of someone who is really sharing the intimate details of her life to all who care to read. She writes: "It’s always hard to open up in a blog because you open yourself up to criticism, and who wants to be taken to task by complete strangers?" This is true. Maybe it's something that's holding me back more than I realize. Maybe I actually am worried about what people will think of me as opposed to my work and ideas. I don't know. I'm going to think about that one. In the meantime, Nancymarie is writing about her dad going into a coma and being put into a rest home, which makes my petty problems seem..well..petty. Nancymarie, who lives in Iowa I think, also writes about her weight, her periods, and a former friend stalking her gaming blog. That's the level of revelation I want to get to. I'm nowhere there yet. Not even close.

So I'll end with a few other snippets. As I type this W. is fighting with my mom on the phone. It's Passover this weekend and my parents are coming into town and the combination of holidays and parental units always leads to stress and conflict, as I'm sure most of you know. No big deal and it will all blow over. But it still sucks. Luckily the stress of this fight is somewhat alleviated by the fact that my friend from across the street came over for dinner with his daughter (who goes to the same daycare as E.) and I barbecued steaks and we all ate meat washed down with beer and juice (I'll let you figure out who drank what beverage). There's nothing like steak and beer to cheer up Hal. So that's all for now. Talk to ya soon.