The Little Words Mean the Most

"What do you do for a living?"

I add the "dot dot dots." Alternatively, when I'm trying to explain fundraising direct mail: "You know that stuff you throw in the trash? I write that."

The Bolshoi came to Foster

and danced a "summer" Nutcracker

We had a bat in our bedroom last night

Its actual size was bigger than the Dark Knight Batman on my TV. And it was treating the room like an aviary. I know you'll say: Why does everyone rush to kill? One word: rabies. Problem: bat-killing device of choice is a nice, tight tennis racket. One swing, and you're done. I don't have one of those. I've got a rag-mop (no). A push broom (no). A regular broom (have to do). Return to the scene of the mayhem. Simone has been ordered under the covers until she hears different. Where's the bat? There's nothing flying around. Flip on light in the walk-in closet. Why, lookee here! At that point, and this is past midnight, the phone rings. It's Sean Triner. He wants to plead the bat's case.

On second thought...

Writing direct mail for hospitals, letters that usually start with a headline. You know the saying, Write drunk. Edit sober. Here's one that hit the cutting room floor, upon sober reconsideration:

"She had a chestnut-sized tumor in her rectum," her husband said.

This is becoming big

Read this report.

2013-14 for me is: mobile, communications thereon

A. IS MOBILE a better retention device than email?

A-part2. IS MOBILE a better 2nd-gift device than direct mail, for some?

A-part3. IS MOBILE a way better involvement device?

B. DOES MOBILE deliver better penetration into younger audiences? Direct mail isn't dead. But it's not the medium of choice for under-40's. They might not be major donors yet. But they can certainly afford small monthly gifts. And they are on fire for change!!!

C. DOES MOBILE, from the First Impressions Department: Seem more trustworthy than street-, face-to-face fundraising? Maybe. Dunno.

D.IS MOBILE? Obviously, the future. Until the next gadget (flesh-embedded, for instance; "embed" appears in my 1961 Webster's Collegiate dictionary) comes along. "You had them tattoo your iPhone on your wrist? Awesome, my Martian friend!"

Simone declares

My summer office

August is direct mail month

This is when year-end appeals get written. Save me ... I'm empathied out. [nah ... never]