Kinky Stick Figure

Hi Mothies!

2010-05-16T21:07:00.001-04:00

If you found my blog from my story on The Moth podcast, welcome! (If you found it some other way, don't get excited. You're welcome here, too.) That story was based on a Stick I drew almost three years ago.

I'll be telling another story next Monday, May 24, at the next Moth GrandSLAM.

Hope you like it here; come back often, leave comments, follow me on Twitter—I'm @kinky_sticks.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-03-30T12:58:00.003-04:00

All That Jizz*

2010-03-17T13:28:00.007-04:00

* If you don't understand the reference, ask someone over forty.

I'm Gonna Be on The Moth Podcast!

2010-03-13T22:35:00.017-05:00

A story I told at a Moth StorySLAM in September of last year will be featured on the weekly Moth Podcast on May 17! I'm so so excited and feel so lucky. It's going to be surreal to see my name on a list that includes Jonathan Ames, Simon Doonan, Malcolm Gladwell, and Sam Shepard (playwright, not murderer).

The evening's theme was "Awkward"; my story was about a date I had with Jefferson two years ago. A coupla weeks before the StorySLAM, J and I were having dinner at my apartment; I told him what story I'd planned to tell. He blanched, and then said, "Are you sure you want to tell that story?" I was and I did. (I know no shame.)

I'm told that each podcast is downloaded an average of 400,000 times.

Yipes.

Second Comes Right After First!

2010-01-30T21:59:00.004-05:00

That's what Buzz Aldrin says, anyway.

I competed in The Moth GrandSLAM on January 27 at The Highline Ballroom. I told a story in front of 500 people. I have never, ever done anything like that in my life (well, except for The Moth StorySLAM, but that was only about 200 people) and it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

I came in second. I'll admit it, I wanted to win. But I felt good about second. Plus, there's always next time!

What made it all even better was that I had friends there.

My BFF and agent extraordinaire Myr (@myrrr on Twitter) kept me sane and in a protective bubble in the hours before I went on. She is the best BFF ever.

Jefferson was the sine qua non of my story (can a person be a sine qua non?). He offered much-appreciated kisses before I went on. He also told a couple sitting next to him that I was his and Jocasta's daughter. Lolita and Viviane got a table close enough to the stage that I could see them while I was telling my story and they both high-fived me when I came off the stage.

I think I have a new favorite hobby.

I'll have another story ready (if I'm chosen) for the StorySLAM on February 8 at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. The evening's theme is Love Hurts.

Gee-Whiz!

2010-01-15T20:47:00.007-05:00

I Hope He Does "Animal" Next

2010-01-02T19:41:00.003-05:00

This will NOT be me tomorrow evening ...

2009-12-30T19:22:00.002-05:00

I'm having a quiet night in. However, if you do something ridiculous, please don't forget to submit pictures. Be careful everybody and have a splendid New Year's Eve!

2009-12-23T12:31:00.006-05:00

A Little Sartorial Advice

2009-12-22T16:10:00.004-05:00

Great Moments in Sex Blogger Tweets, No. 1

2009-12-07T00:43:00.002-05:00

Luka always thought of herself as an open-minded person, but she drew the line at forced relations between crispy snacks.

Threesome of a Certain Age

2009-12-06T00:19:00.010-05:00

I forgot to mention ...

2009-12-04T11:59:00.001-05:00

I won a StorySlam at The Moth back in September! The theme was Awkward and I told a story from my blog. (I'm not revealing which one just yet.) Now I'll get to compete in the next GrandSlam ... whenever that is.

That's My Cervix!

2009-11-26T12:27:00.003-05:00

They May be Bi, but They're Still Boys

2009-11-15T00:25:00.005-05:00

Who am I to Flout Tradition?

2009-11-11T18:31:00.001-05:00

Ow.

2009-10-30T00:45:00.001-04:00

Hey, it happens to everyone, right?

And they said it wouldn't last ...

2009-10-15T18:47:00.011-04:00

“Stick figures? On a blog? Listen kid, Stick figures went out
with silent movies.”

“These so-called ‘Sticks’ are merely the ravings of a mind polluted with
liberal, democratic nonsense.”

“This blog of yours is destined to go the way of the dodo. And pogs.”

“Won’t someone think of the children?”

Those are just a few of the comments no one made two years ago today when I began this blog. But I didn’t let those few imaginary naysayers kill my dream of producing a blog—one with an almost embarrassingly exclusive readership—that featured Stick figures occasionally having sex.

Oh there were ups and downs. Lost erasers, dried-out markers—sex when absolutely nothing hilarious happened. But I got back up, purchased new erasers, borrowed (but mostly stole) felt-tipped pens, had sex over and over again until something amusing, embarrassing, or otherwise noteworthy occurred. And my persistence paid off. (Just not literally.)

Thanks to you my small, addled following. And any new readers I might pick up (again, not literally) along the way.

Celebrity Crush-Watch

2009-10-11T19:23:00.006-04:00

Peter Sagal

Host, Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

Author, The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things

(and How to Do Them)

Marathoner

Triathlete

Nice Guy Who Responds to Twits Tweets

Recent Crime Victim!

"Your success emasculates me."

2009-10-07T15:29:00.000-04:00

That's what my husband said to me once during the waning days of our marriage. He was going through a rough time with his career and I was having loads of success.

My initial response was to feel guilty. As a kid, I'd been taught not to trumpet my academic success because it made my sister—a poor student—feel sad. So it was hard-wired in me from an early age to have mixed feelings about doing well.

Feel happy and proud => realize that my feelings of happiness and pride make someone else suffer => feel shame => feel resentful

But by the time my ex said that to me, I'd been getting my head shrunk long enough to understand how my pattern of thinking got set up and how I could fight it. Guilt was still my initial, knee-jerk reaction—it probably always will be. But a part of me also knew that what he said was pure, unadulterated bullshit.

Last week I attempted something that was very challenging—and I succeeded in a way that was far greater than I had anticipated. I wanted to share that with the people I love, and I did. That old feeling of "keep it to yourself; downplay it or people will get mad at you" keeps popping up, but I keep fighting it.

I hate having to struggle with stuff that I feel sure other people don't even give a second thought to. But I also realize that figuring out all of this shit is turning me into someone I understand, am compassionate toward, and really like.

I'm a Sexual Evel Knieval

2009-08-25T10:44:00.001-04:00

I Give Good Scalp

2009-08-20T19:34:00.000-04:00

If you need me, I'll be face-down on my desk. It's been very warm in New York the last several days. This weather is why I go camping in the Adirondacks in the dead of winter.

You Always Hurt ...

2009-08-16T11:57:00.000-04:00

The Fine Print

2009-08-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

I Have Other Charms

2009-08-13T23:32:00.001-04:00