The Honorable Piggly Wigg
Post #1524 – 20020818
August 18, 2002
Dear Mr.Pinkwater
I have been deeply inspired by your book YOUNG ADULT NOVEL and have devoted my life to it and starting a movement at my school. So I was wondering if I have your blessing to start a Wild Dada Duck website?
Never Stop writing
-The Honorable Piggly Wiggly Vodka(president of Cuba)
Daniel replies:
If you want to be blessed, I suggest His Holiness the Pope, or His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Do not settle for anything less.
Skred
Post #1523 – 20020815
August 15, 2002
Ploobis???
Is that really you? After all these years?
Skred
Daniel replies:
Nope. Not me. You got the wrong guy. Sorry.
Caroline Kaufer
Post #1522 – 20020815
August 15, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Recently we moved into our new home which took about two years to demolish and rebuild. During this painful process we framed my daughter’s grade school “Orange Splot” project. For that picture, she colored in a house that was captioned, “My house is me and I am it and it looks like all my dreams.”
The Orange Splot has always been a favorite of ours and influenced our new home. Here is a picture:
It worries me a little that our neighbors will murder us or that we will end up in the local newspaper as an example of the need for stricter zoning laws but, even so, we love our home.
Very truly,
Caroline Kaufer
Newton, MA
Daniel replies:
It looks extremely nice. I once had argyle socks in that color scheme.
Peter Lightner
Post #1521 – 20020814
August 14, 2002
In the archives I came across the following chatacterization: “my heinous editor, Mr. Wesley Adams at Farrar, Straus and Giroux.” The edges of my manuscript are still smoldering from his reply (he likes the ms, but he has utter contempt for the entire category in which it falls). Is he heinous enough that I shouldn’t send him mss that are bereft of the sweetness upon which he choked? Now that I’ve opened the door to him, I just want to know if it in fact opens into an abyss from which my cries for help will go forever unheard, , or if I should walk through it again. Any thoughts? The litereate youth of America await your guidance.
Daniel replies:
Of course, Wes Adams is not heinous. I was merely needling him in a friendly way because I knew he visited this forum. Perfectly decent and adequate man is Wes Adams. And Farrar, Straus and Giroux is a fine old company.
Jean McKnight
Post #1520 – 20020812
August 12, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I frequently buy used books instead of new books, because I am cheap, and also because I like used book stores. The onliest thing is I feel guilty because I know the author doesn’t get anything to buy beans with that way. I have been thinking maybe I could solve this problem by sending the author a little cash directly when I buy a used copy of a book. I’m guessing I could send twice the cut they usually get and still come out ahead of retail for a new copy, plus keep the cool used bookstores with the bookstore cats afloat. How much do you usually make from the sale of a single copy of a book? Is there an address readers can send such contributions to?
I really feel I owe you personally, for all the hours of reading and listening pleasure, and moreso, for the joy of reading your kids books with their wonderful round little heroes to my wonderful round little son!
Daniel replies:
I suggest an alternative scheme. Choose one author. One friendly, reliable, consistent author whose books you like. Over a period of, say, 20 years, put aside a sum between 5% and 10% of what you spend on ALL used books by all authors--then, when you have a substantial lump of cash, send it to that author. If many used book buyers followed this practice, given that different people would choose different authors, the payments would get spread around, and you wouldn't be using a 37-cent stamp to send me 15 or 20 cents whenever you buy a used copy of something I wrote.
Patrick Marren
Post #1519 – 20020810
August 10, 2002
Daniel P:
I made the very great mistake of lending your memoir (I believe it was called “Fish Whistle”) to a friend about a decade ago, and I am bereft of Pinkwateriana now. I realize I deserve whatever I get after such a boner, but I (and America) wonder: might a similar adjunct or annex memoir be forthcoming from yourself?
I write as a Chicago boy from Ashland and Montrose, and major fan, who has seen the Hudson River Valley and well understands the appeal of its topography to one subjected to the lack thereof that this area is notable for. (And as Winston Churchill said: A preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with. And as my brother Daniel now reminds me, “No: ‘a preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with, A*****e.'”)
Sincerely
Patrick Marren
Crystal Lake, IL
Daniel replies:
Whistle and its sort of sequel, Chicago Days and Hoboken Nights are now available in one volume: Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle, (or is it the other way around?) from xlibris. Try amazon.com or xlibris.com to order in hard or soft cover.
Marina T. Stern
Post #1518 – 20020809
August 9, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I have been thinking about that dog someone wrote you about, the Lab, border collie, malamute mix. As a border collie, it is likely to be smarter than any potential owner. As a malamute, it is probably tougher and more dominant than most people. Labs are sweeter than a sugar angel. Sounds like it has all the qualifications needed to become a benevolent dictator.
Marina
p.s. Thanks for the borgelnuskies. They arrived yesterday. We had them for supper, with lutefisk.
Daniel replies:
I am sure somewhere there's a stupid border collie. I have known plenty of Malamutes that were anything but tough, and horrible Labs can be found too. However, the combination might well result in a dog you'd like as a friend. Borgelnuskies with Lutefisk??? Euwww.
JoAnn Smith
Post #1516 – 20020807
August 7, 2002
On a recent trip to Logsden, Oregon to visit my brother Bill, my sister in law Kristy and I went into Newport nearby to shop before my return to Pleasant Valley. While there we stopped in at Canyon Way, which is a restaurant and bookstore. My family has been a fan of Daniel Pinkwater’s books for years, and in looking through the new book section I came upon his newest, entitled Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories. Knowing this was the gift I was going to bring back to my family, I went up to the desk to pay for my purchases. Telling them what a fan I was of Mr. Pinkwater books, and about how he lived in Hyde Park. The proprietor of the shop Roguey Doyle wanted me to send him her card. I did know Don Traver from PV, who used to bring hay to his house, but didn’t know if he still did, but the owner just handed me her card telling me to give it to Mr. Pinkwater.( Ya right, like I knew him.)
It’s been weeks since my return and I still have her card on my refrigerator. So since I haven’t been able to send it to him, I’ll write what she wrote.
“Adoring fans in Newport, Oregon. I have Hoboken days and fish whistle as my bathroom favorites. Roguey Doyle. Canyon Way, New Port Or 97365
Hope this finds its way to Mr. Pinkwater.
And yes my family loved the newest book of his that I bought at Canyon Way. I also loved the illustrations.
Daniel replies:
When I get a card, I am going to give it to you to send to Ms. Doyle. Meanwhile, tell her you communicated with me, and I am gratified by her kind words, and when you see me having a poppyseed bagel in the Pleasant Valley Dunkin' Donuts, come over and say hello.
Bob R.
Post #1517 – 20020807
August 7, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Long ago I heard you enthusiastically endorse ratatouille as an overweight person’s path to weight loss. This regimen allowed you to eat meals of sufficient size and robust flavor while the pounds melted away. If I’m not asking something too personal, how long did you maintain this diet? (As I recall, you claimed to be eating the vegetable stew thrice daily.) What was the final tally of pounds lost? Would you recommend this approach to others? Is one recipe as good as another?
Bob R.
Sumner, WA
Daniel replies:
I do not believe there is a royal route to weight loss, and I did not believe it when I broadcast that piece about ratatouille. I am familiar with the statistics, which are: .04% of people twenty or more pounds ""overweight"" lose the weight and keep it off for two years. My ratatouille program was to help me take off some pounds before surgery. All went well. I still love the stuff, and we have it often. I am still fat.
Ezra Standish
Post #1515 – 20020806
August 6, 2002
OH MY GAWD! I BELONG to the Overwight Gilbert and Sullivan Society, I swear it! As a Gilbert and Sullivan nut, I am glad to see you incorperated their works into one of your books, well done! We are passing around your book and getting great chuckles.
Daniel replies:
Passing it around? I hope some of you will buy copies for personal use and giving. Passing it around! One chuckle per reader, please--unless they've paid.
Stefan Jones
Post #1514 – 20020805
August 5, 2002
Dear Captain Pinkwater:
I’m amused by all these oddball questions you are getting about watches, razors, and restaurants.
I’d like to ask a oddball dog question or two.
The local paper has a classified ad touting a clutch of puppies . . . “1/3 Lab, 1/3 Border Collie, 1/3 Malemute.”
Is possible for a dog to be ONE THIRD something?
And what kind of bizarre behaviors would such a mix have?
Daniel replies:
This matter of thirds may be expressed for purposes of simplification in the newspaper ad. More likely it's a half, a quarter and a quarter. The combination, however, is full of promise. Likely a high-energy dog, with potential for a personality you might never forget. Then again, the third, third and third may reflect the work of some genetic experimenter.
Mitchgen
Post #1513 – 20020802
August 2, 2002
Dear Sir,
I have a Stahley Live Blade razor which my wife gave me many years ago. It is in perfect condition but does not work. Can you please tell me where it is possible to get that Live Blade repaired? I shall be most grateful.
Thanking you for your kind attention.
Daniel replies:
I could probably have fixed yours, but I no longer have my proprietary Stahley Live Blade opening tool, without which repairs are impossible, and quite dangerous.
Bob Perlman
Post #1512 – 20020730
July 30, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
My mom will soon be celebrating her 80th birthday, and our family would like to take her to a nice restaurant to celebrate. Mom lives less than an hour north of Rhinebeck. If memory serves, you once discussed a favorite restaurant there on All Things Considered. Do you still recommend that restaurant, or perhaps another?
Daniel replies:
I haven't been to that restaurant in years. Very good is China Rose, in Rhinecliff, just west of Rhinebeck. Of course I haven't been there in some time either.
Hakem Rahman
Post #1511 – 20020721
July 21, 2002
Hello Mr.Pinkwater, You have written my favorite book, Lizard Music.
This outragously fun book sci-fi is so great I’ve read it three times in four years. This book is almost in a constant climax. When I first read it in fourth grade it became an instant favorite with it’s amazingly bizzare characters(the Chicken Man, the Lizards, claudia the chicken, and many many more i.e.) and its humorous plot and writing style(you managed to make watching news hilarious). I read it again the next year, and now I’m going to the eighth grade and I finished reading it to my mom I’ve only read books to her that I really like. She has rated all those books nines out ten, but she rated yours a full ten after the first two chapters. I hope to save up some money and buy every book you’ve ever made. Could you give me a list(what are you currently working on?)? My mom and I are big fans so if I were to give you my address would you give us a signed picture, please?
Daniel replies:
While you are saving up to buy every book I ever wrote/will write, don't neglect to make use of your public library which has, or can get you, practically any book you'd care to name. You may want to read Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death; and Borgel, to name three.
Art Gittleman
Post #1510 – 20020716
July 16, 2002
I knew a Manus Pinkwater at John Burroughs Junior High in Los Angeles. Was that you? I can’t imagine there were two. All the time I’ve been listening to Daniel Pinkwater, but needed Google to make the connection with Manus.
Anyway, the Manus Pinkwater I knew really impressed me. He and Noel Swerdlow had a copy of Tristram Shandy which they showed me. It was very cool.
Daniel replies:
Actually, Manus Pinkwasser, frequently anglicized to Pinkwater is quite a common name. Noel Swerdlow is an uncommon name. So is Tristram Shandy. Is there a John Burroughs song?
