This morning was caught reading Pauline Kaels" Raising Kane about Citizen Kane and how it was of it's time. There is some wonderful bits in that story about how Gregg Toland had worked on a Horror film called, "Mad Love" with a bald Peter Lorre and how that film is one that influenced Orson Welles film. I had always heard that he watched John Ford's, "Stagecoach" something like forty times to learn film-grammar, but always wondered why those two films are completely different in style. Seems Mad Love is the one he borrowed from mostly. I'll have to see that now!

Got some nice e-mails from David Gerrold, This was in regard to:

-----Original Message-----
From: lentz2001@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 8:39 AM
To: david gerrold
Subject: Worlds of Wonder!

Dear Mr. Gerrold,

I must interrupt my Sunday morning with what was to be used thinking of ways to lie about the tardiness of my Christmas presents to family to say to you, "Thank you" and "How dare you".

Last night I stopped by my New local Library to drop off late books, when I noticed the cover of "Worlds of
Wonder". I honestly have a thing for bald chicks, that may have something to due with my current divorce
proceedings. Well, I picked up the book and noticed a mention of "The Man Who Folded Himself" a novel I
remember enjoying very much.

I'm not a writer. I like writers and do a radio show where I interview writers from time to time. I've read a few books on "How to Write" only when I was to interview the author. I never really enjoyed any of the ones I read.

Well, I sat in an all night diner here in Burbank and read your book all in one Gawddamn sitting. Now I can
barely see. My left eyelid is nearly swollen shut. Looks like I have pink eye. My ass hurts. And I may not be allowed back in the diner because after 8 hours of constant ice tea refills my bill was only $7.30. I had some eggs. They were glad to see me leave. The booth I was sitting in was glad to see me leave. There's a perfect negative of my butt in the vinyl.

I loved it! (your book)

Thank you and how dare you!

I wish I could take your class cause I've learned so much from you already.

Thanks again,

Jerry Lentz
--------------------

Well, you shoulda called me, because if it was Bob's in Burbank, I was having a hankering for a Big Boy hamburger yesterday! Sheesh.

Glad you enjoyed the book. Now go write something.

BTW, a new edition of THE MAN WHO FOLDED HIMSELF is scheduled for next year.

dg
David Gerrold
---------
From: lentz2001@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 10:13 AM
To: David Gerrold
Subject: RE: Worlds of Wonder!

BOB'S? You're not going to believe this but go to:

My Wedding!

You'll see I was married there! I love Bob's, but no it was at the Coral Cafe that I read your book.

J

-----Original Message-----

What a great place to be married!

I put myself through college working at the Van Nuys Bob's. It was always a family favorite because that's where my dad always took us as a treat.

dg
David Gerrold
------------------
Now go buy his books! The Dude is cool!

I just watched a DVD documentary on the life of Dashiell Hammet. Boy, it was good. There was some great sad stuff in it. He was sick. Barely able to make it up the stairs of his San Francisco apartment. He finds that his wife is pregnant and he has no way of supporting them. No job. So he can barely get out of a chair. The only thing he can do is write. He writes for the Pulps. Then he slowly makes it big. Then abandons his wife and kid.

The stuff's tough. He loses his ability to write. Dies penniless. Lonely. But still famous.

I liked this documentary more than I liked the Kathy Bates directed, "Dash and Lillie", yet I find myself watching that again and again, because of Judy Davis' performance. And who better than Sam Shepard as Dash. Great stuff.

I ran into my friend Aaron at The Frontier Wok where Chef Chen gave us both Xmas gifts. Very cool! Then I took Aaron over to Lance Campers to show him some current models of camper. But they were closed. We just walked around the place looking at them. Dreaming. I was anyway.

I picked up the book, "The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth" hoping that after reading it that it would come true. Guess more time is needed.

I've been going around my apartment preparing for my big day tomorrow where I bag up goodies and go hunt down local homeless folk and surprise them with crap I would of just thrown away. Hey, Merry Christmas, it was either you or the trash can! No really, I put together some nice stuff. Some of it even new! It's really fun. I think I'm going to talk Aaron in to going with me cause it's best to have a driver to leave the engine running and the door open for a fast getaway incase a conversation starts to break loose or eye contact is made.