Okay, Gov. First thing’s first. Explain that blog title.
Have you ever read Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift? It’s one of my favorite novels, like, ever. I’m not kidding. It was published in 1726 when Jon was already pushing 60 (considering I’m only 31, there’s hope for me yet!). It’s divided up into four parts. The first part’s where he goes to Lilliput, the island of those little tiny belligerent people. And then part two sees our man Gully go to a place called Brobdingnag, the island of gentle giants. Part four, the last part, is where he goes to the island of the wise English-speaking horses called Houyhnhnms and these primitive, grunting humans called Yahoos.
But the part I’m talking about is part three. That’s the one where he’s touring some of the weirdest islands you can think of. Right off the bat he finds himself on a flying island called Laputa. Then he’s off to a place called Balnibarbi, which has been totally trashed by scientific experiments ‘n whatnot. And there’s this other place called the Grand Academy of Lagado where these weirdo professors do stuff like try to make clothes out of cobwebs and breed naked sheep (there’s a terrific joke in there somewhere). Gulliver also goes to Luggnagg and has a ball with the struldbruggs. But another place he goes, right? In part three? Is this place called Glubbdubdrib, the Island of Sorcerers that’s ruled by a governor. It’s there that the Guvster gets to converse with dead folks about various things. He learns that history is all one big fat lie and that humans are more primitive nowadays compared with ancient times. Or something like that. I’m not exactly sure how all that relates to my blog really. I just like the word Glubbdubdrib. I just love seeing all those b’s and d’s smashing into each other. And I like fancying myself the governor of a place that has smashing consonants.
What’s the point of the blog?
I reckon there’s no real point to it. I just like having another excuse to write. I use it for my fiction serial Jellwagger, of course, but I also like to use it for more journalistic kinds of exercises, documenting some of the more interesting things I do and see. I dunno. Whatever.
Jellwagger?
I don’t understand the question. Are you asking about the name specifically? What the story in general is about? Where it’s heading? Well anyway. As for the name Jellwagger, I had a friend my freshman year in high school whose stepdad’s surname was something like Stellwag. I’m pretty sure that’s what it was. But my friend? He didn’t get along with this dude very much and so called him “Stellwagger” behind his back. He swore me never to say that name out loud when his mom and stepdad were around, or his half-brother, this kid who was, like, in first grade. Stellwagger’s son. Anyway, the folks were out one time, but the little kid was around, and I let slip the word “Stellwagger”. The squirt heard what I called his dad and said that if I said it again, he’d tell on me. My friend slapped me upside the head real good, which I suppose I deserved. I could have really gotten him in trouble.
Anyway, that was the 1990-1991 school year. Now fast forward to about, I dunno, a month ago maybe? It’s a decade and a half later. I’m gearing up to start trying to sell my manuscripts but am trying to think of some sort of creative writing I can do in the meantime just to tide myself over. I decided to write about a guy my age going through all kinds of wacky shit in the City of (Fallen) Angels. For whatever reason that I’ll never know, the name Stellwag(ger) popped into my noodle. But then I was like, “Nah. I should change it. I don’t want to use anyone’s real name.” Ta da! Jellwagger!
As for what the story’s about and where it’s heading, I have to be honest with you. I haven’t a clue. I did absolutely no prewriting or outlining or any of that stuff. I just dove into the ocean of Jellwagger and started swimming. We’ll see where it goes.
So I noticed your last name’s Lady.
That’s not exactly a question. Are you asking about its ethnicity maybe? Or are you just feeling sorry for me? If it’s the latter, you’re three decades too late, pal.
But if it’s the former, well as it happens, that’s a subject of debate within my clan. For a long time we all thought it was a Scottish name, with the “a” pronounced like the “a” in rat. But about eight or nine years ago, new research came to light that suggested it was ultimately of French origin, the original surname being DeLadey. Apparently some of them came over just before or during the American Revolution. Of course, a lot of the peeps living over here at that time were British born or first or second generation. As we all know, the French and British haven’t always seen eye to eye on matters. So who knows? Perhaps, to fit in more with the Anglos, the DeLadey clan decided to Anglocize the name. ‘Course, they could’ve done better than Lady for Christ’s sake. How about Ladd or something? Anyway, the search for our roots goes on.
So is this what you do all day? Sitting there in your little cave in Van Nuys scribbling on this thing?
No! First of all, I’m querying the bejesus out of literary agents ‘n whatnot to drum up interest in my books and scripts. So there’s that. And secondly, I work for a living. I work at Yahoo! as a matter of fact, speaking of Jonathan Swift and Gulliver’s Travels. Jon invented the word “Yahoo” for that novel, by the by. I’m not kidding. This became one of my favorite reads during my junior year of college, back in 1997, and today I find myself working for a company with that name. Oh life, you’re so funny.
Your writing is of the highest refinement and discernment and I’d like to send you my compliments, if you please./This is all hooey and I’d like to give you a toxic piece of my mind!
Why certainly. All letters to the Governor may be sent to sotomcal@yahoo.com.
Have you ever read Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift? It’s one of my favorite novels, like, ever. I’m not kidding. It was published in 1726 when Jon was already pushing 60 (considering I’m only 31, there’s hope for me yet!). It’s divided up into four parts. The first part’s where he goes to Lilliput, the island of those little tiny belligerent people. And then part two sees our man Gully go to a place called Brobdingnag, the island of gentle giants. Part four, the last part, is where he goes to the island of the wise English-speaking horses called Houyhnhnms and these primitive, grunting humans called Yahoos.
But the part I’m talking about is part three. That’s the one where he’s touring some of the weirdest islands you can think of. Right off the bat he finds himself on a flying island called Laputa. Then he’s off to a place called Balnibarbi, which has been totally trashed by scientific experiments ‘n whatnot. And there’s this other place called the Grand Academy of Lagado where these weirdo professors do stuff like try to make clothes out of cobwebs and breed naked sheep (there’s a terrific joke in there somewhere). Gulliver also goes to Luggnagg and has a ball with the struldbruggs. But another place he goes, right? In part three? Is this place called Glubbdubdrib, the Island of Sorcerers that’s ruled by a governor. It’s there that the Guvster gets to converse with dead folks about various things. He learns that history is all one big fat lie and that humans are more primitive nowadays compared with ancient times. Or something like that. I’m not exactly sure how all that relates to my blog really. I just like the word Glubbdubdrib. I just love seeing all those b’s and d’s smashing into each other. And I like fancying myself the governor of a place that has smashing consonants.
What’s the point of the blog?
I reckon there’s no real point to it. I just like having another excuse to write. I use it for my fiction serial Jellwagger, of course, but I also like to use it for more journalistic kinds of exercises, documenting some of the more interesting things I do and see. I dunno. Whatever.
Jellwagger?
I don’t understand the question. Are you asking about the name specifically? What the story in general is about? Where it’s heading? Well anyway. As for the name Jellwagger, I had a friend my freshman year in high school whose stepdad’s surname was something like Stellwag. I’m pretty sure that’s what it was. But my friend? He didn’t get along with this dude very much and so called him “Stellwagger” behind his back. He swore me never to say that name out loud when his mom and stepdad were around, or his half-brother, this kid who was, like, in first grade. Stellwagger’s son. Anyway, the folks were out one time, but the little kid was around, and I let slip the word “Stellwagger”. The squirt heard what I called his dad and said that if I said it again, he’d tell on me. My friend slapped me upside the head real good, which I suppose I deserved. I could have really gotten him in trouble.
Anyway, that was the 1990-1991 school year. Now fast forward to about, I dunno, a month ago maybe? It’s a decade and a half later. I’m gearing up to start trying to sell my manuscripts but am trying to think of some sort of creative writing I can do in the meantime just to tide myself over. I decided to write about a guy my age going through all kinds of wacky shit in the City of (Fallen) Angels. For whatever reason that I’ll never know, the name Stellwag(ger) popped into my noodle. But then I was like, “Nah. I should change it. I don’t want to use anyone’s real name.” Ta da! Jellwagger!
As for what the story’s about and where it’s heading, I have to be honest with you. I haven’t a clue. I did absolutely no prewriting or outlining or any of that stuff. I just dove into the ocean of Jellwagger and started swimming. We’ll see where it goes.
So I noticed your last name’s Lady.
That’s not exactly a question. Are you asking about its ethnicity maybe? Or are you just feeling sorry for me? If it’s the latter, you’re three decades too late, pal.
But if it’s the former, well as it happens, that’s a subject of debate within my clan. For a long time we all thought it was a Scottish name, with the “a” pronounced like the “a” in rat. But about eight or nine years ago, new research came to light that suggested it was ultimately of French origin, the original surname being DeLadey. Apparently some of them came over just before or during the American Revolution. Of course, a lot of the peeps living over here at that time were British born or first or second generation. As we all know, the French and British haven’t always seen eye to eye on matters. So who knows? Perhaps, to fit in more with the Anglos, the DeLadey clan decided to Anglocize the name. ‘Course, they could’ve done better than Lady for Christ’s sake. How about Ladd or something? Anyway, the search for our roots goes on.
So is this what you do all day? Sitting there in your little cave in Van Nuys scribbling on this thing?
No! First of all, I’m querying the bejesus out of literary agents ‘n whatnot to drum up interest in my books and scripts. So there’s that. And secondly, I work for a living. I work at Yahoo! as a matter of fact, speaking of Jonathan Swift and Gulliver’s Travels. Jon invented the word “Yahoo” for that novel, by the by. I’m not kidding. This became one of my favorite reads during my junior year of college, back in 1997, and today I find myself working for a company with that name. Oh life, you’re so funny.
Your writing is of the highest refinement and discernment and I’d like to send you my compliments, if you please./This is all hooey and I’d like to give you a toxic piece of my mind!
Why certainly. All letters to the Governor may be sent to sotomcal@yahoo.com.
