Ben Rose
Post #936 – 19990924
September 24, 1999
Hello there oh great Jelly donut
I have read Nifkin again and all five novels
you have helped me get past some depression
I have suffered from depression in my life. Prozac did not help. I have found something that does. But better than any drug, Oh Captain my Captain, is an infusion of Pinkwater literature. I recomend you highly to all who would find salvation from this dreaded mental illness.
Ben The Librarian
Daniel replies:
I took a drug that was supposed to alleviate depression, and it made me fat. Later, thinking it over, I stopped taking the drug, and just continued to get fat. This has worked pretty well. If you suffer from depression, I would suggest potato pancakes, cooked in that new cholesterol-reducing margarine, and brisk walks outdoors, followed by more potato pancakes. Those who can read, may read my books of course, if they feel it helps.
Emily Lloyd
Post #935 – 19990924
September 24, 1999
I wanted, by my side, a copy of _The Snark-Out Boys and the Avocado of Death_ so badly that I was about to steal one from my local library***.
What a thrill to find it back in print.
typin’ with one thumb in a peppered potato,
em
***I *work* in my local library, so it was especially nice not to have to commit a crime at the workplace.
Daniel replies:
I think I've been in your library! Unless it's a common thing for library employees in general to work with their thumb in a baked potato. Actually, I have done so myself. It's very pleasant in cold weather.
John Blakeney
Post #934 – 19990922
September 22, 1999
Daniel,
My mom’s 3rd 74th birthday is coming up at the end of September. She’s had the longest run at one age of anyone I know. I believe she would get a real kick out of your stuff. What do you recommend I start her off with?
Hope you have time to respond,
Thank you,
John
Come to think of it, she began dating my dad when all he had to drive was a 74 Cubic Inch Harley. Hmmmm?
Your story on growing up in Hollywood was good. I grew up in Los Angeles. I really had fun listening. Thanks.
Daniel replies:
I am all for repeating ages you like. Try my book BORGEL. It's about someone who's 111. (Hard to find, but it will be in the collection, out later this year, when your mother will be....74).
Espe Gunheim
Post #931 – 19990921
September 21, 1999
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
I’m from Spain and I had never heard about you ’til last Sunday, September 10, 1999, on my way to do groceries at Costco. You left me in a hot car listening to your story about a woman with an old Golden Retriever who initially was meant to be her daughter’s. It fit me perfectly. I thought it was me and my “Ole” (name of my golden), but it only got better when you starting mixing the norwegian fish, lute fisk, since my husband is norwegian and I absolutely hate fish in general, but specially that one.
I’m sure people were looking at me laughing inside that hot car. Thank you and keep on making and mixing things up, it’s very possible you’re getting close to somebody’s life no matter how crazy it may sound to others.
My dog Ole is 12 years old (like my daughter) and in good health right now, but when the time comes, I may think on that lute fisk.
Good health to you too.
Daniel replies:
You've got me confused with that dialect comedian who tells stories about lutefisk. What an honor. Not your fault...you're from Barcelona. Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Debra Schaeffer
Post #933 – 19990921
September 21, 1999
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My son, daughter and I have been fans of yours ever since we discovered The Big Orange Splot. (You did write that book, didn’t you? There can’t possibly be another Daniel Pinkwater!) Anyway, yours has been a household name since too long ago to remember. My son is utterly addicted to your book, Five Novels, and I love your little conversations with Scott Simon.
You have turned us on to some great books. But I have one concern – How could you have missed the poetry of Shel Silverstein. All kids in the past twenty years have grown up on a steady diet of his poems. (I would have asked this question sooner, except that it took this long to get around to finding your web site.)
Last, I would love to visit you in the Hudson River Valley. We are up that way quite frequently, as we have friends in Palisades, NY. Do you ever accept visitors? Also, would you consider a visit to my elementary school in January when we have our millennium reading celebration?
Most sincerely yours,
Debra Schaeffer
Spring House, PA
Daniel replies:
It was easy to miss the poetry of Shel Silverstein. You'd be surprised what else I've missed. You'd be welcome to visit, but there's the consideration of insurance, and the rotteweilers, and the attack-chimps, and the man-traps, and the specially-trained fungii. Best to stick to the internet posts.
John Robertson
Post #932 – 19990921
September 21, 1999
We are a fourth grade class in Omaha, Nebraska. We have just read part of your Hoboken Chicken Emergency story in our Silver Burdette & Ginn reading series. We then enjoyed our next selection where Lee Bennett Hopkins interviews Daniel Manus Pinkwater. We prepared for this story by brainstorming questions we would ask Mr. Pinkwater if he actually were visiting our school. Several of our questions were answered in the Lee Bennett Hopkins interview, however, not every question was answered. I am challenging my students to ask Mr. Pinkwater their questions via this wonderful web site and hope you will respond. We truly enjoy your writing. Thanks.
John Robertson
Columbian Elementary
Omaha, Ne
Daniel replies:
I will answer your questions, right here in front of everybody. You don't scare me, you Columbians, you.
ineffable f
Post #930 – 19990920
September 20, 1999
Mr. Pinkwater,
You were right about the malevolent forces. Thanks for the warning. I was able to buy a pair of comfortable shoes in time, and I think that saved me.
Here’s the thing, though. I have an abalemma (defined in The Meaning of Liff as “The agonizing situation in which there is only one possible decision but you still can’t take it.”), which is as follows:
I’m going to a prom in Chicago next week. Not like a school prom. It’s run by this old guy who pours everyone coffee and plays swing music, and there’s cats running all over the place. Very classy. That’s not my abalemma. This is:
I have to ask Shakes to go with me, but I can’t. What should I do?
Incidentally, we’re starting a revolution. We’re going to overthrow the government and make me king of the world. Will you vote for me?
Daniel replies:
Would you vote for you? Will you vote for me?
Robert Warren
Post #929 – 19990920
September 20, 1999
Let’s see first of all did you have some sort of wild and crazy Uncle who was always talking about the time-space continuem or are you that very Uncle who you like so much? Also What is it with you and those sparking rum-soaked cigars? They are everywhere in your books. And how about mesquito repellant hotdogs? Are both the cigars and the hotdogs real? Or are they amazing innovations of the mind or maybe even revelations of things yet to come? As you can see these all bug me, also what if that Freddie guy who ate the magic popsicle in Borgel only ate half the popsicle, would he have ripped himself in half and one half would merge with the popsicle making some sort of mutant dancing fool, while the other half remained the same? Or was the popsicle so good that it was fate that you had to eat it all?
Fafner was probable the coolest dog in the world. The smart talking jerk dog opened my eyes that dogs are really all like him, except for the one’s with little heads they’re just plain stupid. Only loyal to the hand that feeds them leeching off of human society, I speak the truth.
“Wait Fido what are you doing what’s that youve got in your paw? What! I know too much Agghhh”
Daniel replies:
See, my uncle was a big dog....it's all in the book I'm writing now. Well, not all.
Shaenon K. Garrity
Post #928 – 19990918
September 18, 1999
I have read and reread Borgel so many times that my copy at last vanished entirely, no doubt reduced to subatomic particles during a long car trip. Uncle Borgel’s rambling quest for the Great Popsicle strongly influenced my impressionable young mind, gradually developing into a lifelong fascination (okay, so I’m only twenty-one, but it’s still lifelong) with long journeys, roadside attractions, and the everpresent possibility of bizarre adventure. And root beer. Mr. Pinkwater’s books have gotten me safely through high school, have travelled with me to college and to Ireland and back, have been passed on to friends (and in most cases, happily, returned). Give thanks, for four more are once again available to the public at large. Huzzah!
Daniel replies:
How many nights I have tossed and turned thinking that my work may have had some impact on the impressionable young minds of the impressionable young such as little Shaenon K. Garrity. But, after a while I get tired of tossing and turning, and go upstairs to bed, and get a good night's sleep.
Michael Sideman
Post #926 – 19990915
September 15, 1999
If I had not read the Pinkwater books I never would have understood the true meaning of the word “Nettlehorst.”
Daniel replies:
Is it Nettlehorst, or Nettelhorst? Can _you_ hum a few bars, (of the song, ""Nettelhorst, my Nettelhorst)? Is it a mistake to nettle horsts in midstream? Have you ever passed a bar? Had you not had early experiences of Nettlehorst, do you think you would have been a more or less serious person? Explain why. Explain Nettelhorst.
The Armstrong Family
Post #924 – 19990909
September 9, 1999
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
My family enjoyed an audio recording of the Blue Moose with two additional Blue Moose stories. I heard you on PRI reading from the new book Toestomper and the Caterpillars. Is it in your plans to do an audio copy of this book?
We love your work, and my husband has been a fan for many years on public radio.
The Armstrong family
Daniel replies:
It was NPR, not PRI, and Toestomper and the Caterpillars was not written by me, but was being discussed by me and Scott Simon, the host of Weekend Edition Saturday. I have nothing against PRI, and admire the fine programs they distribute. I forget the name of the author of the Toestomper book, but remember the fine illustrations.
Kirthi Reddy
Post #923 – 19990906
September 6, 1999
If it weren’t for the Snarkout Boys books, I wouldn’t have had a tough punk girl named Rat as my childhood idol, I wouldn’t have been interested in beat poetry in fourth grade, and I most certainly would not have been so excited about being a weird kid. I still don’t understand how those books get better every single time I read them.
Daniel replies:
Ohhh! Good one! Simon and Schuster, please note.
Writing talent here!
M. Bregman
Post #921 – 19990905
September 5, 1999
Dear Daniel,
Love listening to your show! You have given me many ideas for wonderful new books to give as gifts to my friends’ children. I especially liked the one about “the ink-drinking vampire?” …or something like that!
Could you help me out here? I can’t remember the proper title, but it was about a young boy who helped out around a book store. As he was sweeping the floor one day, he saw a strange man walk into the store. The man appeared to drink the letters right off the book pages. The boy followed him home, and got bit by the man. The boy went back to the store, with an insatiable love of books, drinking the print in the pages right off the pages, as fast as he could, etc…..
Great little book. Since it is close to Halloween – it should make a wonderful gift for my friend’s 6 yr old boy.
Your assistance in locating the book is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
M. Bregman
Daniel replies:
That's The Ink Drinker, published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Random House Mitsubishi. If you can find it (try cattermole.com) you can also consider Wempires by my humble self, (Macmillan, I think).
Ben, Lin and Billy Goodni
Post #922 – 19990905
September 5, 1999
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
We were recently informed of your demise approximately two months ago.
Hopefully, that information is incorrect. But, in case it isn’t, can you tell us what you are doing now?
Your loyal readers,
Ben, Lin and Billy Goodnick
Daniel replies:
Let me see...two months ago, what was I doing? Nah...I didn't die. I did have a big meal on the terrace of a Chinese restaurant on a very hot 4th of July, but there were no repercussions. I can't be 100% certain about this, but I am pretty sure, I haven't demised lately. However, keep me informed if you hear anything.
