The Worst Seats
The other night, in Florida, I had the fun of going to see the Broadway show Avenue Q with my pal (douche-y namedrop time) Jeff Marx, one of the creators of Avenue Q.
I'd seen it before. I love it like candy. Good candy. Like Chaleston Chew when those were the best.
But there was something about getting to see it with the guy who dreamed it up -- with his parents and family and friends and all of us there. Broadway and the Tony are nice. But at intermission, we were talking about the beauty of having YOUR play come to YOUR theater in YOUR hometown.
And as I mentioned this beauty to Jeff, he turned to the back of the theater, pointed up to crappy seats up in the balcony, and said, "That's where I used to sit when I came here years ago and saw Phantom."
Let me be clear here: most people, when they find success, never want to think of those days when they had the suck seats. But we should never forget those seats. Those are the best seats we'll ever have in our lives.
What you see below is the picture Jeff took -- of his Tony-award winning play -- from his old seats up in the balcony.
I love him for never forgetting. But I love him more for leaving our amazing center-orchestra seats to take in the view from way back.
PS - Other best part? When the 99-year-old lady usher shooed him (and us) out of the theater, threatening that, "The show's over, young man, time for you to get out."
Posted on 1/1/2009 6:21:00 PM
Final Gift
In many ways, we’re still getting over this year. And while it’s easy to write silly things about how you need to appreciate every day, and sappy, sappy, sappy — well, boy, those Hallmark cards sometimes get it right (especially the ones with the glittery butterflies).
For me, this year will forever be associated with losing Mom. But in her honor, I’m having one final laugh at the little things: like the fact that she thought the cheap fake horrible ponytail hair she bought at the flea market was “better” than the fancy ones rich people pay retail for.
And for those who still haven’t made their charitable decisions, here are four that we love. All are great. None benefit us. But they do all make the world a prettier place. In no order:
City Year
City Year Miami is off and running. So are 19 other cities.
Just watch this and tell me you don’t get it.
Sharsheret
The place that helped my Mom the most with her battle with breast cancer. Links young women with other young women (and young at heart).
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Yes, we still love Hero’s Alliance. ALL our t-shirt sales still go there. But CBLDF is fighting the good fight in the courtroom (and picking all the right First Amendment battles as well).
Save the Superman House
Will have an update soon, but wow, wait till you see what you’ve bulit with this one. The chimneys which were collapsing have been replaced with new masonry. And most importantly, the roof has been replaced with a new roof, which should stop the ongoing interior plaster damage. And then going inside...
So here’s a chance to keep it going (and get a great Chip Kidd t-shirt to boot)
Here’s to a healthy and peaceful new year for you. I’ve leaned very hard -- more than you know -- on our friends and readers this year. Some of the best advice I’ve gotten came from here. So thank you for helping with Book of Lies, the Superman house and Last Will & Testament and for always coming to the signings just to say hey. But most of all, as always, thanks for being part of the family.
B
Posted on 12/31/2008 3:52:00 PM
Super Heroes...Are REAL!
I knew we were right!
Video link: Meet Razorhawk (Fox News)
Great Lakes Avengers...Assemble!
Posted on 12/30/2008 10:30:00 PM
Dreamers
I love this story — and love Heidi for believing with it. So here’s to all who plan to dream the big dreams in 2009.
You will never walk by Artists Alley the same way again
via THE BEAT
by The Beat on 12/15/08
Must reading: Sunday’s Washington Post Magazine has a comic book cover story — not one of the usual stars of comics, like Frank Miller or Art Spiegelman or Chris Ware...but on Andre Campbell, a legally blind artist who is one of those folks in Artists Alley you passed by countless times:
Having toiled for nearly 20 years, Campbell, 44, had produced — with Eades’s assistance — one comic book and one graphic novel, both self-published, starring Campbell’s Alpha Agents (”Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”). Unlike the professional comic book artists, who had been invited to attend and who had made their names by working on some of the most beloved superhero titles of our time, Eades, 33, and Campbell had paid $150 out of their scarce resources to rent a table. But now they were focused on the significance of this day. For the first time, they had traveled to an out-of-state convention to promote their company, Heritage Comics HSQ (Heart, Soul, Quality). When they found their way to the corner of the convention center set up for small-press artists such as themselves, they settled in for eight hours of talking up characters that no one had yet heard of.
Writer David Rowell walks us through everything in a clear-eyed, but sympathetic manner. As a comics professional, I would have dismissed Campbell by the second paragraph of his story — or other people, like Vell Trueheart , a 60-something comics rookie who can’t afford a scooter because she’s sunk so much money into her comics. They are the peripherals, the hangers on, the dreamers. Rowell takes us inside Campbell’s dream, and you can’t help but dream with him, because all humans must dream, must aspire.
The article begs the question of whether the dream is worth having…or worth spending $3 on. And that is the harsh judgment the passers-by must make, and keep making. The process has no end point. Campbell will keep dreaming — and we will keep walking by.
Edit: There was a chat today, with both Rowell and Gregory, on Washington Post dot com that you might also want to check out
Posted on 12/18/2008 3:55:00 PM
Mom
Today’s my Mom’s birthday. The first birthday since she passed away. And yeah, it’s just another day. But man, I miss her. In fact, what hurts most isn’t just the loss. It’s the reality that it’s getting easier. I’m getting used to her not being there. And that twists me even more.
Boy, what a mopey way to start the day.
Only thing mopier is rereading her eulogy.
Which I just did.
I owe my Mom every single moment.
Sending love to all those who have a loss they’re living with.
Posted on 12/10/2008 5:39:00 PM
Thanksgiving
WEHT: Bill Messner-Loebs? (Publisher's Weekly)
Years ago, this is the very first cause I blogged about on here. In many ways, it was our first step toward Ordinary People Change The World and the Superman house.
So nice to see the happy ending. And let's be clear, not everything needs to have the happy ending, but so nice to see that Messner-Loebs found one.
Posted on 11/24/2008 3:26:00 PM
Signed Copies
I've been getting lots of requests for signed books for the holidays, so if you missed any of the events for The Book of Lies, here're some spiffy new copies, superly book-plated inside. And all the money goes to charity for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
Good deed. Nice gift. And free sig.
www.cbldf.com/bookoflies
Posted on 11/20/2008 3:48:00 PM
Amputation
As the fundraising for the Superman house dies down, we're left looking at other things to do with OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.
Here's one (a friend of one of our nearest and dearest).
Just donate a dollar. That's it. One dollar. And let's see where we go.
On July 22, 2008, Michael Stolzenberg was rushed to the emergency room with a bacterial infection that was not responding to antibiotics. Shortly after he arrived, he went into septic shock and the doctors were forced to put him on a ventilator. His condition quickly worsened to the point of hopelessness, and as a last ditch effort, he was put on continuous dialysis. The doctors and nurses at Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital made heroic efforts over the next seven weeks to keep Mikey alive.
Miraculously, Mikey survived with his intelligence and wit; however, oxygen depravation to his limbs has resulted in the amputation of both hands and both feet. Mikey will have to live with the results of his illness for the rest of his life. At this point, it is unknown whether Mikey will be able to write, use a computer or even feed or dress himself, much less participate in the every-day normal activities that he so enjoyed prior to his illness. Up until July 22nd, Mikey was an avid athlete and had just earned the starting quarterback position on his pee wee tackle football team; he also enjoyed playing lacrosse, riding his bike and all of the other activities most 8-year-olds thrive on.
Michael's only hope of regaining some independence and normalcy in his life is to have superior prosthetics. The prosthetics that will allow him to participate in physical activities and to take care of himself in any manner are not the type approved by health insurance. While many amputees can survive with the basic prosthetics covered by insurance, they are usually only faced with one amputation, not four. Compounding the issue is that Michael is only 8, and the four prosthetics will need to be replaced bi-annually as he grows. This is not a task for any one family to face alone.
Mikey dreams of walking and running again, of being able to feed himself, and having some independence and quality of life. Please help us make all of Mikey's dreams come true! There are no limits!
Miles for Mikey
THERE ARE NO LIMITS!
Help Mikey re-gain his quality of life by walking for him, making a donation to the Trust, or by getting others you know to donate! Keep this email going by forwarding to all you know.
Please make checks payable to "the Michael Stolzenberg Trust" and mail to 1840 Main Street, Ste 202, Weston, FL 33326
Sponsor Levels
Superbowl $2,500
Touchdown $1,000
Field Goal $500
Safety $250
Extra Point $100
Sack $50
First Down $10
Audible (other amount)
For more information, please visit www.MichaelStolzenbergTrust.org
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 6, 2008
TEQUESTA TRACE PARK
WESTON, FLORIDA
10:00 AM
For additional information contact:
Starr Adams at starrjoe at aol dot com
Renee Rheingold at renee at marcrheingold dot com
Sharon Truske at struske at myacc dot net
Posted on 11/7/2008 1:22:00 PM
Michael Crichton
Been travelling to South Carolina for a book event, which is where I realized two things: with our new President, the 60s are officially dead (or at least done being overhyped by some of the media's most self-centered babyboomers). Whatever your party affiliation, let's enjoy the new day.
Two, Michael Crichton passed away from cancer.
I didn't know Crichton. Never met him. And maybe it's just seeing a novelist's obit. But, damn if Jurassic Park wasn't a kickass novel. It's so easy to point to all the other stuff, but that novel really meant something for me way back when. And as I look at my own obsession with research, I owe him a great deal. A tip of the amber to him.
Posted on 11/6/2008 8:19:00 PM
Halloween!
I love Halloween. I really love it. And not just because my wife pulls out the Wonder Woman costume that she usually just saves for my birthday. (I know...you just can’t help wondering if that’s a real joke or not.) But beyond the magic lasso, I love the memories of dressing as Batman for that one night...and then wearing the cape for the rest of the year(s). See below photo.
So a treat for you: this list of the best and worst candy.
It’s true. Don’t argue. But do add additional items if you please.
Also, would love to hear what you’re going as. Cori and I got invited to an actual superhero party. Oh the irony. I so wanted to pull out all the stops, and try for an amazing Power Girl or Hawkgirl and Red Arrow. Or even get back into our Wondertwin costumes we made years ago. (It take a real man to wear that much purple.) But instead, we’re doing Supergirl and Lex Luthor. Yep. Shaving the head totally.
Safe tricks and treats for all.
Love each other. And vote.
Posted on 10/31/2008 12:07:00 PM