Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 15:43:38 -0400 From: Words from the Monastery Organization: Order of the Ever Blooming Lilly Subject: Re: [WRITERS] FILL: My Name Is Toscano Anthony V. Toscano wrote: > Dear WRITERS: My most dear young man; > Every once in a while I begin to think that folks who have been members of > this list for a short time might not realize that these days two people who > call themselves Anthony contribute their thoughts and words to this forum. I have come to a simular conclusion upon occasion myself. > I am Anthony V. Toscano. The other Anthony here uses the tag line "Words > From The Monastery" and the signature "volente Deo, Anthony." Few seem to read that far ... > It's important to me, and perhaps as well to the other inestimable Anthony, > that my words be understood as distinct from his. Yes, you assumed correctly in this case. > I'm Italian. I'm American. > I'm a grammatical snoot and a full-time member of the ARG Society. I'm a revolutionaire. > I like the complexity of the English language, and I think it fruitless > dreaming to consider that we might simplify the language by way of > committee. I'm a minimalist ... I like the simplicity of life and do not like to convulcate it with useless excess. > I don't want to simplify the English language. I do. Where it needs it ... not some 500 word nonsense ... there ain't that many fixes to be made ... more like 10% than a more significant number. > I try not to make excuses for my errors in print. I'd rather attempt > mastery of grammar than to allow my grammar checker to master me. Here we're twins ... I do not make excuses for my errors in print nor allow my grammar checker to be more than another tool in my writing box. > When I speak a language other than English, I enjoy the music of the > language I speak, but I appreciate even more the levels, shades and clever > insinuations the English language allows me to convey. Don't really care either way ... Celtic is pretty cool to hear as well as Latin. > I write every day, but I'm not a writer. I write every day and I am a writer. > I own no black beret, but I'm considering the purchase once prices come > down and I become famous. Could've had a green beret if I wanted ... but I love the sea more than the land. > I drink a lot of espresso and I have no trouble sleeping after the eighth cup. I drink caffeine free diet Pepsi by the 2 liter bottle while at work and then a combination of either Pepsi or an iced tea mix that I make of three bags Tetly a nd one bag Earl Grey. > I write into my laptop computer while sitting inside coffee shops. I know > this is an affectation, but how else to remain close to the IV? I write into my laptop computer ... my PC ... my pocket organizer ... my desk to p organizer ... Post-It notes ... scraps of paper ... the TV guide which comes wit h my Sunday newspaper ... but never on walls or desk tops. > I'm here because writers are intelligent people and I like good company. I'm here for the good company and intelligent conversation ... the world is full of intelligent people and writers do not hold a monopoly on brain power. > I use Macintosh computers most of the time. Windoze is okay, but > installing a modem or a printer is much like being buried inside a cave and > then rising on the third day after the funeral; some folks will never > believe you're god after taking all that time to accomplish what should be > a simple task for a supreme being. I use a PC and have never had it take any significant amount of time to install anything. Open the PC ... insert card ... close PC ... install software ... dial ISP ... nothing more ever. > I eat a great deal of garlic, so the email airwaves afford me friendships I > might otherwise not enjoy. Ditto once more, but I keep a tin of Altoids in my desk to give it a peppermint smell as well. > I don't live in Washington, D.C., although I once knew that city quite well > and she knew me. I don't live in Washinton, DC either ... I live safely outside the beltway with a wonderful view of some trees and the apartment down the hill and across from me ... if only more of my female neighbors would change their clothing in front of their open windows I'd be a content man. > I love smart women. I love based on personality ... not intelligence or looks ... both are overrated . > I enjoy smart men, but they're just not shaped the same, and most times > they smell different. I enjoy humanity ... they do smell different to put it lightly. > I'm sometimes a wise guy. All right, I'm many times a wise guy, but it's > not my fault. I'm a smart ass ... but then mamma always said, "better a smart ass than a dumb ass." > I own a temper, but you'll never know about it, unless I grow angry and > begin to make a fool of myself. Here we go ... twins again ... just separated at birth. > I'm opposed to the death penalty, although I'd murder anyone who harmed a > loved one of mine, and I would not allow you to get in the way of my > stiletto and my teeth. Paradoxes do not stop me thinking. I'm support capital punishment fully and butchering the fool who'd invade my hom e and endanger my family. > I don't live in a monastery. I don't believe in any god. I cannot abide > new-age gurus and their expensive self-help books. Shirley MacLaine is an > exception; I love her pink hair, her mystical prognostications and her cute > cheesecloth face. I channel with her every morning, so if anyone wants to > get a message through, just ask. I don't live in a monastery. I don't believe in a Christian god. I cannot abide by new age anything besides new age music. > I like to dance. I like to recline. > Please remember that there are two Anthony's here on WRITERS (and maybe > more who lurk). Yes, definitely. > I am Anthony V. Toscano. I like my name. I am Anthony and until a stalker started sending me maps to my home and calling me at 2 a.m. I used to post my last name as well. > Thanks for listening. Thanks for reading. > Ciao, volente Deo, > ---------------- > Anthony V. Toscano > atoscan@ix.netcom.com > anthonyvt@aol.com -- Anthony http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/4640/ I'm on a mission from God ... ... so I've made a deal with the devil!