Current mood:	satisfied
Current music:	Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas

Fame and Friends
Earlier today, I spammed a select group of friends and colleagues (not even professional contacts) with the news that I had been name dropped in the Wall Street Journal today. This was sent out with the header, "Normally I'm much more demure about these things..." And it's true. While I have what can only be described as a huge personality in person, when it comes to my writing, I am earnestly serious and mildly fragile. As such, when people pay me compliments, I immediately drop out of my big personality and say, very quietly, "Thank you." Later, when no one but my wife is around, I might do a cartwheel, but I tend to not do as much self-promotion as I probably need to in my burgeoning writing career.

Anyway, within minutes, the replies were flying back to me. Mixed in among the short and sweet Congratses and Way-to-goes were a number of digs, jibes, and pokes, such as:

"Yes, you're a shy and delicate flower."

"That certainly trumps 'The Daily Texan.' I am more proud than ever to wave your book around at people and say, 'This chucklehead author is my friend!'"

"Demure is just not a word that I have ever associated with you."

And my personal favorite:

"Sellout. ;-)"

It's nice to know that I've surrounded myself with people who are good enough friends that they will never feel like they have to kiss my ass. It's very grounding. As long as there are folks out there who can tell stories of the time I monkey-walked, drunker than hell, up to X person and made a jackass of myself, I think I'm going to be all right.