Glauber
Post #2975 – 20120602
June 2, 2012
Congratulations to Webmaster Ed on the completion of his studies. We're grateful for the many ways he has enriched our life: his work on the podcast, the web sites, the serializations. Surely, even his Hippocratic pursuits must pale when confronted with all this Pinkaquatic awesomeness. Thank you, Webmaster Ed, for keeping the eggplants at bay!
What color IS blue red, anyway? amaranthine? heliotrope? mulberry? plum?
Daniel replies:
I too, of course, wish to add my congratulations! We can look forward to news that the great Doctor Ed, has done important work, perhaps in the treatment of Eggplant Fever, or Novshmozkapopism. Bravo, Dr. Ed, gentleman, genius, polymath and physician!
Jim Deutch
Post #2973 – 20120526
May 26, 2012
I listened to a couple of the podcasts and found that you had left me no choice: plowing through the entire archive was the only possible option.
I'm pretty far past the Blue Moose sequence now, but I've come up with a Moose Joke that only Webmaster Ed and you, sir, yourself, are worthy of reading.
Too bad that this comment site is public, but what can you do?
Not only is this a moose joke, but it is cleverly combined with another genre of supreme pinkwatery goodness: the chicken joke. Well, anyway, here it goes:
[redacted]
There it is. You may have it: gratis. I certainly don't expect a magic decoder ring at this late date. I do hope you liked it, though.
Daniel replies:
We regret that only a public forum is offered, but we will make an exception and suppress your moose joke--too advanced for a general audience. Thank you.
Sandra Little
Post #2971 – 20120525
May 25, 2012
When my son can't sleep he has to listen to The Blue Moose. Not necessarily saying it's boring, or comforting. It is, however, most definitely something.
Daniel replies:
I bet you know it pretty well by now.
Mrs. Gray
Post #2970 – 20120525
May 25, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
We are reading the book “Lizard Music,” and we think it is fantastic so far! We havea couple of questions for you.
Noah: Do you like lizards?
Zac: Which of your books so far do you think is the funniest?
Trent: Do you like the zoo?
Mrs. Gray: Why did you choose those particular artists as aliases for the Chicken Man?
Thank you very much,
Noah, Zac, Trent, and Mrs. Gray
Daniel replies:
Noah: Like lizards how? As pets? As snacks? As friends to accompany to the movies?
Zac: You think my books are meant to be funny? That's interesting. I never thought of them as funny. Hm.
Trent: I like the zoo. Where I live is almost a zoo.
Mrs. Gray: Because they are neat artists. Those guys really knew how to paint.
Amy Meadows
Post #2967 – 20120521
May 21, 2012
My daughter is graduating from the Johnston Center at Redlands next week. She will be one of about 40 graduates who will hear special remarks by those family and friends hand picked. In reviewing her path to adulthood, I realize that she has selected Mr. Plumbean has her guiding force. It has not been easy being your own counsel, but in the end worthwhile. So I am writing to say thank you.
Daniel replies:
I will pass your remarks along to Mr. Plumbean, who has always had a life of his own. You cannot go wrong selecting a guiding force with a big mustache like his. Thanks for the thanks.
Glauber
Post #2963 – 20120520
May 20, 2012
Captain, my daughter just finished reading Mrs NoodleKugel to me and her sister, and we enjoyed it.
I enjoy your writing, but i miss your illustrations. Any chance we will see any more of them?
Daniel replies:
You never know...but I so much enjoy seeing the work of the great Jill, the great Calef Brown, Adam Stower, Will Hillenbrand. And I don't know that I am such an illustrator, certainly not in their league.
Yehoshua Parker
Post #2938 – 20120517
May 17, 2012
Mr. Pinkwater,
I run an academic and creative quarterly, based out of Brooklyn, that targets the institutional service gaps of the Jewish outreach industry through trenchant wit and bohemian style. I feel that “The Big Orange Splot” holds prophetic advice for an article we will be featuring for this coming fall. My hope in emailing is to start a dialogue and to hear insights on how it might be possible to incorporate some of the themes you presented. Your book came highly recommended by my friend in Chicago, Dr. Julian Ungar, whose daughter might have worked for you in the past.
I can be reached at [redacted] or I can call you at a time of your best convenience.
Best,
Yehoshua
Daniel replies:
Signs of danger...run away: academic, creative, outreach, trenchant, dialogue, insights.
Favorable signs: Brooklyn.
I went to grade school in Chicago with an Ungar...I think his name may have been Jay.
Ryan
Post #2939 – 20120517
May 17, 2012
Hi! I just heard about you on my CSA test! I got so excited to message you that I tried to get on to your website ASAP! And now I read your books whole lot!
Daniel replies:
It is an ill wind that blows no one some good. (Or, as Danny Kaye said about the oboe, it is woodwind that no one blows good).
Josh Spielman
Post #2936 – 20120517
May 17, 2012
In your book, The Artsy Smartsy Club, there's a character named Ivan Itch. He goes by Nick. Am I right? Well, In Dostoyevsky's The House of the Dead, on the second page of the introduction, is a character named Ivan Ivanitch Gvozdikov. Yes. His middle name, or second first name, or his first last name, is Ivanitch. Is this just a coincidence, or was Dostoyevsky copying you?
PS: I think you should really start writing more books faster, because I thoroughly enjoy rereading Borgel every week or so.
PSS: Why is Borgel out of print? It shouldn't be. I think I'll start a petition.
Daniel replies:
I'm going to have to speak to Fyodor about this....again! Of course he won't listen--he's an idiot and a gambler. Plagiarism is a crime, but he eludes punishment because he's underground...in the house of the dead, you know? At least he steals from the best.
Kevin Cheek
Post #2931 – 20120512
May 12, 2012
I am undoubtedly a fan of your work. As a child, I was not a complete outsider, not the object of constant bullying and ridicule, and your books did not save my childhood. OK, I did have a rather unusual childhood, but I went to very good schools and had very good teachers. I was aware enough to realize, even as young as third grade, that I should be grateful for caring, intelligent, challenging teachers. I never even had many lazy or misguided teachers to compare them to–I was truly lucky! I mention all this to illustrate that your work appeals to many of us who did not have a parallel experience to your protagonists (along, or course, with those who did). What does appeal to me is the individuality and confidence of your characters–the fact that they can assemble the world from their own unique perspective. When that comes into conflict with the way we are often told the world works, the result is that rare, wonderful combination of humor and wisdom that makes great literature.
Daniel replies:
Yes? So? Are you under the impression that it matters to me whether readers of my work had childhoods out of Charles Dickens, or were born into families of enlightened billionaires? Did you want to send this post to Maurice Sendak maybe, and since he has gone where the wild things are you sent it to me instead? I never said that I thought my characters were outsiders. Some reviewer said that, and all the others then said it too. I think they are insiders. I am never sure what you are talking about, but I do think you have a lot of cheek.
Ashley
Post #2932 – 20120512
May 12, 2012
Dear Mr.Pinkwater,
i just heard about you in one of my spelling test and it said your name and your website. i am only in forth grade but our teacher read us one of your books and i think you are the best book writer in the whle world/universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Daniel replies:
Maybe just the best book-writer in the galaxy. The universe is a big place.
Tammy
Post #2920 – 20120509
May 9, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I was not much of a reader when I was in middle school (25 years ago), until I met your books! I read every single Pinkwater book I could get my hands on. It was such an exhilarating experience to discover books and ones filled with silliness and intrique at that, a rare combination. My classmate and I wrote you a letter filled with questions including "do you write about fat people because you are fat?" to which you responded by cassette tape.
The correspondence with you was one of my most treasured grade-school memories and I just wanted to say thank you.
Sincerely, Tammy.
Daniel replies:
It is for me to thank you. So, thanks.
Daniel replies:
Hang onto that piece so it can be read over my grave. (Possibly the reader should wear a raincoat, because there may be fruit thrown).
gary kilarr
Post #2897 – 20120429
April 29, 2012
I don’t know that you will ever live down the Pineapple and the Hare. Even though I like all your responses in this blog? re the test controversy, you might consider communicating with other authors who don’t sell control of their works to basal readers or test “developers”-
I do enjoy your stories and have promoted them constantly when I taught children’s literature. On another matter: Has Wingman ever been republished? or are there plans to? I think it is one of your best.
A long time ago one summer I invited you to speak in Reston, Virginia to a group of nuns who were in a Master’s program at VPI&SU-a great adventure.
Thanks
Daniel replies:
I well remember that visit to Reston VA, and the cool nuns.
