Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
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Who is Woodstock anyway?
I often get the question - how did you get the name Woodstock? Is it a nickname? Do you like the Peanuts cartoon strip? Should I call you by your given name? Which do you prefer? And so on.
Several years ago, when I first had Internet access, I regularly read and participated in discussion on one of the old Prodigy service bulletin boards. All the regulars had nicknames, and someone began calling me "Woodstock." I still correspond with this friend, even though the old "bulletin boards" are long gone. She doesn't remember why it seemed appropriate. We had never met in person, she had no impression of my age group.
BUT - I came of age in the 1960's, although by the time of the Woodstock festival I was supporting myself and had neither the time nor the inclination to go roaming around the country seeking out rock festivals, as much fun as that would have been.
Anyway, I loved the nickname because of the connotation of the sixties generation and what I remember about being young then. And in those early days of Internet participation, I was more comfortable with a gender neutral name.
I'm now a regular poster to the Usenet group rec.arts.mystery or RAM for short. Still leaning toward gender neutrality, I started posting (in late 1998, discussing a film based on an Elmore Leonard novel) and referring to myself by "Woodstock" I asked the regulars on RAM to call me by that nickname. Most members of RAM have by now figured out my gender, and many know my given name. But I enjoy being known by a nickname. Or nom de plume, if you consider the book reviews I publish on line and in CrimeSpree magazine.
Jon Jordan, the editor of CrimeSpree, tells me he has received inquiries - why does he accept anonymous reviews? His response, and mine, is that I do not write anonymously. I use a pen name. You may contact me by email, I will respond, I'm not hiding anything important. By now this has become part of my "shtick" if you will, and I tend to judge people by how easily they adapt to using a nickname to refer to me and address me.
I think that I'm satisfied with my first blog entry, so I'll post this.
I'll be on the road for most of the next week, will check in and have more to say when I return.
Woodstock
Several years ago, when I first had Internet access, I regularly read and participated in discussion on one of the old Prodigy service bulletin boards. All the regulars had nicknames, and someone began calling me "Woodstock." I still correspond with this friend, even though the old "bulletin boards" are long gone. She doesn't remember why it seemed appropriate. We had never met in person, she had no impression of my age group.
BUT - I came of age in the 1960's, although by the time of the Woodstock festival I was supporting myself and had neither the time nor the inclination to go roaming around the country seeking out rock festivals, as much fun as that would have been.
Anyway, I loved the nickname because of the connotation of the sixties generation and what I remember about being young then. And in those early days of Internet participation, I was more comfortable with a gender neutral name.
I'm now a regular poster to the Usenet group rec.arts.mystery or RAM for short. Still leaning toward gender neutrality, I started posting (in late 1998, discussing a film based on an Elmore Leonard novel) and referring to myself by "Woodstock" I asked the regulars on RAM to call me by that nickname. Most members of RAM have by now figured out my gender, and many know my given name. But I enjoy being known by a nickname. Or nom de plume, if you consider the book reviews I publish on line and in CrimeSpree magazine.
Jon Jordan, the editor of CrimeSpree, tells me he has received inquiries - why does he accept anonymous reviews? His response, and mine, is that I do not write anonymously. I use a pen name. You may contact me by email, I will respond, I'm not hiding anything important. By now this has become part of my "shtick" if you will, and I tend to judge people by how easily they adapt to using a nickname to refer to me and address me.
I think that I'm satisfied with my first blog entry, so I'll post this.
I'll be on the road for most of the next week, will check in and have more to say when I return.
Woodstock
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