Thursday, December 13, 2012

Leaving on a Jet Plane



I’m off to DC this evening for my book readings. So far I’ve only done book signings; this will be the first time I actually speak about my book in front of an audience. The good news is that I love attention, so public speaking is right up my alley. And I’ve been practicing what I’m going to say, which always helps. But I need your opinion about one of the jokes I plan on telling. In my book’s introduction, I show examples of emails students have sent me asking why they failed my class, and these emails are grammatical disasters. So I was going to make a joke along the lines of how sending grammatically incorrect emails to an English teacher to question a failing grade is as absurd as Mel Gibson questioning why he wasn’t invited to the Bar Mitzvah (or Hanukkah party because 'tis the season). 


I think it’s funny, but I think I’m always funny.  Is it in bad taste? Is it not funny? Do you have something better I can steal and not give you credit for?


Have you booked your tickets yet?

Here are the times and locations again:

December 15 @ 2pm
Books-A-Million
11 Dupont Cir NW (at Connecticut Ave. NW) 
Washington, DC 20036

December 17 @ 6pm
Busboys and Poets
4251 South Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206


14 comments:

Shelly said...

You'll knock 'em dead. Figuratively, of course.

Brent Wescott said...

It's more absurd to say "Mel Gibson being invited to the Hanukkah party." Maybe not as funny, though.

Mark said...

Good luck with the readings. You'll be fine if you don't mind public speaking. As for the joke, it's not bad, but I'm not sure how much it does in terms of taste. I hate getting all politically correct but chances are you're going to have to. I can't really think of an alternative though so I'm going to have to say go with it.

Stacy McKitrick said...

I read the joke to my husband. He LOVED the Bar Mitzvah line (laughed out loud). So, there you go!

ams said...

I have to admit, I winced a little bit. I hope you're well. I miss proofreading your stuff and I miss you!

ams said...

-Arianne

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

That joke could be quite sensitive! But i hope all goes well with your reading and wish you a fun day!
Duncan In Kuantan

the late phoenix said...

i've learned one thing and one thing only after my years and years of NIN and SNL: if it's funny, it's funny, if it's true, it's true.

my actor/center-of-attention spirit will be with you at your show.

please, Jenny, call me Shirley...



Jono said...

They'll be drawn to you like a politician to money. How could they not?

Jo-Ann S said...

I had a chuckle a the Mel Gibson thing, but my only thought about it is that it's now a few years out of date.

Maybe something along the lines of Sarah Palin (or another person who recently appeared to be really stupid in front of an audience of millions - I'm not in the US) wondering why they weren't invited to the MENSA party.

ordinary malaysian said...

On a jet plane to...

The land where 'colour' is want you less

And 'flat' has not so much to do with abode

As it has to do with tyre
And even here, tyre is not want you think they think - they tire you, I tell u

But be thou not faint
Where grammar scares, or scarce,
not thou sustain

Good luck!

'Cos, Mel Gib or not
Bar Mitzvah is -
Hanukkah!

DWei said...

As of this comment it happened yesterday. I hope it went well. :P

anthony stemke said...

Well, it might be old or not,
...as absurd as Mel Gipson wearing a yarmulke.
...As absurd as a dyslexic walking into a bra and girl.

I can't believe you are traveling to D.C. What about Las Vegas or Denver?, Houston etc. I sure wish I could come and hear you.
I always go with my spouse when she reads her books at libraries and schools. The children are such a delight.
If you get to NE Georgia (USA) or even Atlanta, I will make the trip.
I wish you happy holidays. I always enjoy reading your posts.

Theresa Milstein said...

I laughed.

How did it go?