Date:         Sun, 15 Nov 1998 23:49:10 -0500
From: "the rags of time..." <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      [WRITERS] INT: The eMJay awards, 1998?

So, did I miss it yet?  I'm really looking forward to the swimsuit
competition this year -- I think Wes is going to show us how to walk the walk!
What a charmer he is, and letting him strut down the runway in sequins...well,
may the best wiggle win!

Let's see.  Got to check the scorecard and see what else we've got to vote
on...

First come all the beast characters.  Beast organizer, beast critiquer,
beast overalls, beast mechanic, and so forth.  I do enjoy the wild animals...

(hey, how come we don't have beast tamer in the list?  how about an award
for being second beast, too?)

Then come the fabulous -- essay, poet, short story.

Following along the parade (or is it a charade?) come the simple
appellations (mountains out of molehills?  Great piles of verbiage from
little letters, at least!).  The conservative and the liberal; the daddy,
mommy, and kid; the flirt, the lurker, the brains of the bunch...  all the
pigeon holes awaiting the pigeons come home to roost?

Of course, there are the mosts -- likely to be published, likely to be
starring at an open mike reading, mysterious, outspoken, persuasive,
political, romantic, sensual (her words were like the fine excitement of
toast, warm peanut butter -- extra crunchy --, and honey munching in your
mouth, grinding between molars, glueing gums and dripping down your throat),
serious, surprising (surprising?  What about madamprising?  Or even
subprising?  do we have room for enterprising?)...

The Peanut Gallery is always way overful, but I suppose we need to recognize
the contributions of those gallant nuts among us (equal rights for almonds?
and what about cashews, filberts, and the lowly walnuts!  let's hear it for
nutty equity!  up with nuts!)

And then there are awards for piling it high, doing welcome wagon, inspiring
the list, being welcome in bed, and for being a good baby sitter (just how
much do you charge?  And do you have up-to-date health insurance?)

I'll bet there's an award there that is just right for you!

Now this year, are the festivities taking place in a specific locale?  For
example, are the runway, speaker's booths, and other points of interest
being erected in the subway station underneath the Pentagon in Washington
D.C.?  Or perhaps somewhere slightly more congenial -- somewhere in the
Bermuda triangle?

Area 51?

Let's hear it for the eMJays!  Who's running for what, and why should I vote
for you?  (what, bribery?  you'll give me a 1,000 words of flash fiction?
but what's the street value of that writing, anyway?)

(Is Wes really going to take a wiggle down the runway?  Stay tuned for the
next episode in the thrilling surprise adventure known as...

The WRITERS eMJay Awards!

For more details, see <A HREF="http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/emjay98/"> The
eMJay Pages</A> :-)

"...I wander'd off by myself
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars."
        Walt Whitman

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