Letters from the Inside, Chris Porco, #4

Dear Kelly,

Sooo feel free to yell, scream, curse, etc. at me for being terrible about writing for lets say the past 2 months or so. I am not even sure when I actually wrote last, but I know it hasn't been recent. There's no great excuse, but there was a perfect storm type deal the past couple of months that may have interfered with correspondence. (Not just with you.) .. I had several school deadlines in November that I came very close to missing. And more importantly my oral arguments for my appeal were on November 30th, and I was basically a wreck leading up to them. Add all that to the time warp bubble of prison, and you get two months without a letter. I'm truly sorry...

So that's my mea culpa. Far from adequate, I suppose, but believe me, I've gotten several heated letters in the past couple of weeks wondering where I am. So I am taking a day or two to catch up with everyone.

I have always wanted to go to Tokyo. It is cool as hell you are headed there soon. I hope you get this before you go, I am not sure of your departure date. Have you done the Craigslist route before when traveling? It sound like you found a great place, Tokyo real estate is definitely not cheap. Have a safe, fun trip, have you been to Japan before? It is on my top ten places I'd like to go.

I have to tell you, I think it is hilarious that you apply for positions/jobs just for the process of it. I don't know you all that well, but it seems to fit your personality perfectly. Clearly you are well read and intelligent. I bet you are qualified for a whole host of positions you haven't tried for yet. How often do you do this? would you consider taking one of the jobs? I am 26, and still not confident that I use semicolons correctly. Just the fact that you would even think of that as a potential lesson says a lot about you. When it is? Any thoughts of doing it full time?

My oral arguments were held in Brooklyn on November 30th. I was anxious as hell for several weeks beforehand, it felt like my trial all over again. I think I usually am fairly even tempered, but I had that knot thing in my stomach, and couldn't stop thinking about it. It is very unsettling to know your life is in someone else's hands, and there isn't much you can do to affect the result. So at present, theree old white men and one woman are deciding if I should be sprung outta here, or rot for 43 more years. Routine for them, but sort of a big moment in my life, you know?

Anyway, it went really well. In general, oral arguments in criminal appeals take five to ten minutes per side; mine took 40 for us and 15 for the DA. (Like the semicolon?) We had requested 20 minutes, but there minutes in the judges started asking my lawyer questions, and didn't stop for the next 40 minutes. They clearly had read everything, and had come up with a lot of things to ask. That isn't as common as you might think... They didn't ask my lawyer anything he couldn't answer, and at times were making comments and asking rhetorical questions that seemed to prove our points for us. It is impossible to tell how things look at this point, but hte lawyers were thrilled with how it went.

My mom went down with a few friends, and I was calling her every hour to check in on the status of everything. Two of my dad's lawyer friends went with her, and they talked to me on the car ride hom about some of the more complicated parts that my mom didn't pick up on. The next morning I talked to my lawyers for an hour or so, and went through it all in detail. A local news station broadcast it live in Albany, (slow news day), and then posted most of it online. So I was able to hear a lot of it over the phone which was nice. There is no court reporter in the appellate courts, so the video is the only record of what happened. My friend works at the station, Capital 9 News, (sort of like NY1 in Albany) , and she is trying to get the full copy for us. If you have interest, it is online somewhere inside capital9news.com

The DA took 15 minutes or so, and clearly was not well prepared. I am a biased party, obviously, but everyone I talked to said he didn't have command of the trial record of the relevant case law. The judges corrected him on things multiple times, and seemed to get frustrated at the amount of repition of points they had already discredited. They admonished him a couple of times to stop quoting irrelevant case law off of note cards. I wish I could have seen that, he is an ass.

Generally the decision take a month or so to come out, but the length of our briefs and the holidays throw a wrench in that timeline. So end of December would be a surprise more likely January some time. We will see, keep your fingers crossed.

There isn't a whole lot else going on here, I have my Latin final tomorrow, I am semi prepared. I almost got in a fight earlier today too. I've been here three years, and only had one other fight, some guy who decided to wave at me, (not with his hands). There can't be any tolerance for things like that in here...Anyway this guy is a former NYPD who thinks he is still a cop. His name is Lau or something, he is here for shooting another cop in a road rage type incident. We found out today that he is keeping written files on people here in the hopes that he can offer information to some DA to get time off his sentence. That does not make you a popular guy, as you can imagine. So he and I were chatting about his behavior, and another guy I am friendly with decided to punch him, so I just sorta watched. The cops, (Correction Officers), were all standing around laughing, they hate the guy too. I am not sure where he is now, either the hospital or protective custody. Lovely, right?

I am about to go outside and work out, so I will end here for now. We had a lot of snow the past couple of days, so it can get a little dicey pushing a lot of weight that is covered in ice. I guess that's why normal people work out indoors in gyms.... Take care, ok? Safe trip. I am jealous, it sounds wonderful. I'll be in touch soon, I promise. And yes, I would love to read more of your writing... Bye!

Chris

Letters from the Inside: Ann Kontz & Susan Smith

Both sent me photocopied Xmas greetings that dealt with the Lord. Apparently they both are on the All Jesus All the Time Diet.

From Susan Smith:

May Jesus, our Savior
who was born on Christmas Day,
Bless you at this season
in a very special way.

May the beauty and the promise
of that silent night
Fill your heart with peace and happiness
and make your new year bright.

Then in her handwriting she wrote:

Dear Kelly,
Hope you have a merry & bright Christmas. I'm blessed to know you. You're a great person. Happy New Year too!
Love, Susan

***

Ann sent me an actual Xmas card that has a picture of a tree on it and says: Every Gift of the Season Comes Wrapped in the Love of Jesus.

It is signed: Paul & Ann [Paul is her new husband. She is in jail for poisoning her first one.]

Cards and stamps can be nearly impossible to come by in here--so once again I am thankful to have Paul's help in sending out my Christmas blessings.

2009 has been a good, busy, fruitful and productive year. I've met some new people--both in here and out there. I've formed beautiful and lasting friendships. god has blessed me. Two women that I've met have truly inspired me. One is my accountability partner and we help each other through the rough spots & celebrate though the joyful times. The other has grown to be my best-friend in here. She is my prayer partner---she encourages me, studies with me and we enjoy our time together bringing God's glory. We are there for each other through thick and thin. I never expected to find such beautiful people in prison.

Having said that, I've learned a great deal about people in general this year--God has blessed me with a spirit of discernment. While He has revealed the beauty of people to me, He has also shown me that the opposite exists. Many in here are only self-serving. While learning this doesn't ever come easy in life--I am thankful to God for the growth that came from it.

My family is wonderful. Clare is loving school. Reading is her favorite & she enjoys reading to me when I call. She is so expressive and gifted. Jessica got married this past June to a wonderful man named Owen--God is blessing their union.

After two years in Horticulture I earned an Apprenticeship in Landscape Design from Wake Tech Community College. I've moved into a new job working in the Store. It's a busy job. When I'm not serving customers, I'm stocking shelves, etc. It's 7 days a week and I have little free time. I work on holidays and I find it helps to pass time quickly and keep me distracted.

I pray for you and your family to have a wonderful holiday.

I'd love to hear back from you--hear how you're doing--you're in my prayers.

I love you,

Ann

Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #66

Ed: What is particularly interesting about this letter is that enclosed with it was a cut-out of a great article by Martha Stout, the author of The Sociopath Next Door. I find it particularly interesting that Swango knows I think he is a sociopath and have questioned him extensively about his nature, and he responds by giving me this article about sociopaths. How fucking meta is that? A sociopath sending you an article about sociopathy...

Martha Stout Article about Sociopaths, Interview Magazine

My Dear Kelly,

Let me start with your two very good pieces of news in your last letter:

>Based on enthusiam alone, I hope you are chosen for the NYC Teaching Fellowship! You made two really good points in your application: that you were one of those hi-risk kids; and that you believe a teacher has to integrate pop cutlure into the curriculum to reach kids raised on the internet, TV & cellphones.

>Great score using Apt Swap on CL. With a penthouse in the middle of Tokyo as a base, this could be one of your best "vacations" ever. I'm sure your blogs from there will be amazing, although regrettably highly self-censored?!!

In my last letter or so, I mentioned Chelsea Handler and her rather colorful way of referring to sexual encourters of the celebrity kind. So imagine my surprise this past Tuesday night when watching one of those "below the radar" television series I talked about, "The Good Wife"--the plot line involved a fictional episode of the real Chelsea Handler show. The hooker who slept with the "good wife's" jailed husband goes on Chelsea's show and tell some tall tales causing problems for husband and wife.

Here's the irony: CBS's audience skews older/and many people who watch CBS drama do not watch Chelea--and I would imagine some don't even realize that she is a real person.

Your absinthe story was cute. Believe it or not, I rarely drank alcohol before I went to Africa. But some of the concoctions there were unbelievably strong. A story or two to follow...

Thanks for the Emily Nussbaum essay on the 3rd season of MAD MEN. She captures the essence of the show quite well. She saw as well how Trudy is the only thing keeping Pete Campbell from crashing and burning.

From Stephen King's short story "L.T.'s Theory of Pets":

"In a marriage, words are like rain. And the land of a marriage is filled with dry washes and arroyos that can become raging rivers in almost the blink of an eye. The therapists believe in talk, but most of them are either divorced or gay... It's silence that is marriage's best friend."

Your thoughts on this, KK?

***
Two items continuing with the teme of "windows" and "willing partners".

>The startling effect of music: Listening to that son "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga & watching the video absolutely raises endorphins. I'm convinced. By the way, regarding the song: Talk about your bad relationships... I want your ugly/I want your disease/I want your psycho...I want your love...Oh yea! No problems here!

Again, just based on talking to many people in the past, I believe the effects are more pronounced than in most. With many different pop/rock songs, as well as classical---only a few of which I've mentioned.
>It is because music & films & books are so individualized to our own nuances & idiosyncracies, that knowing which ones really touch something inside of you can tell you so much about someone. Really. [In the above, the underlinings are actually necessary!]

A note regarding the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas: Did you notice that five of those killed were over 50, well over 50 in some cases: Ages 62, 56, 55, 52, & 51. The 55 year old was a woman.

And another hallmark of today's military--three women were amonth the dead: the woman above/a pregnant 21 y/o/and a 29 y/o sergeant.

DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
Tuesday, February 2
Final Season of "Lost" begins.

* Finally: For you, KK: Ran across this inteview with the author of a recent book. If you don't already own it, I'm sure you will. Please tell me all about and we can discuss if you'd like.


Must wrap this up. Again, my apologies for the significant delays caused by the L-O-N-G weekend.


You take care--stay super healthy for Japan. Thinking of you, & hope to hear from you soon.

Yours,

Michael

P.S. Suddenly, "Threesomes" seem to be all over pop culture: the recent "Gossip Girl" episode/the Brittany Spears song "3"/even that above-mentioned episode of the "Good Wife"...

Certainly some discussion to be had, but not today!

Letters from the Inside, Sarah Pender, #22

Kelly,

I received your letter. I'm looking forward to seeing if punk musician guy stays on the scene, and how long it will take you to ditch NoteGuy. It's fun being posted on your life, since mine, at the moment, sucks. To answer your questions:

I am still stuck in isolation here, even more so than where we were before. I can't talk to anyone, now, only see a few of them through small glass door windows. I have made good use of my limited knowledge of sign language. It's cold as hell in here. They say it is 67, but it feels like 62, which is a fine temperature on a sunny day with no breeze, with a sweater, while walking in the park. Not so good for sitting in a sunless room on a concrete slab.

We had to move the whole prison because the population of women inmates is growing due to ridiculously long sentences, a 67% recidivism rate for short-term sentences, and very little opportunity for rehabilitation. The state is broke, and can't afford to build more prisons, so we swapped. The juveniles had a capacity for 800, but only a couple hundred girls. They moved to a vacant wing of minimum security women's prison, we moved here and men are moving into Randolph St. Operations are still not up and going, but they are working on it. It's a mess. Rules change with each shift. No answers from people. Much confusion. And it's COLD. I'm really struggling to keep my sanity intact. I am sick of being locked in a room.

did you read my article based on the New Yorker article and my experience here?

Loved the description of the thrift store lighter. You are fun.

Thank you for helping my mother. She appreciates the help, and so do I. Unfortunately she didn't raise me much. Lots of reason why, but in the end, I needed her nurturing more than I needed the higher education my father provided. Such is life. And at least I've got good parents. We can all find fault in our parents, but I know how it could have been, and I count myself lucky.

I considered some more your jobless dilemma. You seem to have a network of friends and decent people in your life. Have you considered asking for help? People want to help you, if you just ask. Not saying you haven't, it just seems to me because you've had to be independent your whole life, perhaps you don't ask for help.

Are you familiar with the band "Def Leppard"? When I was a kid, my babysitter used to rock out to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "love Bites"--I had no idea that the drummer, Rick Allen, lost his arm in a motorcycle accident. And he kept on playing. I mean, wow. We're talking about a world wide known band, here. and it's a Rock band, so it's not like playing drums for Mother Goose lullabys. and it's not like he lost his foot--an arm is pretty necessary for drumming. What I love about it is that he didn't give up, he recreated the context of what drumming was. It's like a story my friend told me about sex. Most people think of sex as penile-vaginal penetration. Gays altered it to include anal sex. Lesbians crated a context that doesn't often use penetration, or uses other things like fingers, tongues, toys. One time she came upon a paraplegic woman with a hot femme laid over her lap. She created sex as having nothing to do with her pussy. and what about an impotent man? Sex doesn't start at orgasm. Nor at touching. Sex starts in the mind. One handed drumming started in his mind. Your employment status starts in your mind. You'll figure it out.

I hope this finds you well nd on your way to gainful employement, no worries, good food and friends, and enjoying life.

With care,

--Sarah

Letters from the Inside, Bart Corbin, #2

Hey Kelly,

Sorry. I hadn't thought of you as a school teacher :). Again, I received the letter on a Thursday so I could not mail you till Monday anyway.

No family for Thanksgiving? I hope you still had a good time. As I've (no reference to you) gotten older, I too have desire much more alone time. I can remember whe I almost needed crowds around me. Now I have one 24/7. Not what i had in mind.

Sorry, again, for the difficulties business is giving you. I hope some prospects are coming to light since your letter. It's tough everywhere, but real estate and advertising are some of the worst. Few things are recession proof (except alcohol). I read gyms too. I, or course, worked for myself also. It was the only real way to eventually be compensated as you thought worthwhile.

Have a great time in Japan. I've never been to the Orient. I never traveled much. It was one of the other things I meant to get to. I've been to Canada, the Cayman Islands a couple of times, Italy for a couple of weeks, and mostly domestic outside of that. I wish I had done more before the children were so young. Hey, maybe you can send me a cheap touristy postcard from there. Unless geishas are cheaper FexEx. :) My brother was in Thailand. he said they liked his belly. I bleieve it is a sign of being wealthy. Oh if that was all it took here :). He loved it. Sounded more like a man's paradise to me. I had a change to go to Segovia, Spain when I was in college. My Spanish teacher and I got along well and that was his hometown. He had just missed the cut to make the basketball team for the Olympics. He wasn't a big guy. Dated the Homecoming Queen for a while. I regret I didn't take him up on it, to see another country with a nature from then would have been perfect.

Well I'm not sure if the pictures do me justice, but I know this recent haircut doesn't. So hard to find a hair artiste these days. I supose they have to arrest more! :) Rob Lowe? (played me in the movie about my crime) Kind of surreal, but he is on the backside of his career, isn't he? He's not as tall or as big as I am. he shoudl research his projects more before accepting. Some people see this stuff and accept it as factual. Celebrities have too much benefit of the doubt and influence. Journalists do not write "true crime" books anyway; persuado "authors" do. Unfortunately, they feed a public blood-lust that is their substitution for boring lives.

I just finished reading "Hi Fidelity" that the movie was based on. I really liked it, easy read, but relevant in a funny way. I am now back on my classics kick and reading Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. I read popular pulp too, but I like to sometimes lay back with some classics and read them. I don't feel quite so much like I wasted time.

I like most kinds of music: contemporary jazz, hard rock, some country. I don't care for most rap except for some of the more popular stuff. We can only receive cds here, no downloads, etc. and the radio reception is limited for the prison is a type of valley near some mountains not far from Alabama and Tennessee. We really only receive one station well.

We have TV and a little cable. Sports are on alot but we have a movie TV. The others tend to want to watch the same things over and over again like children. No DVDs with us anyway, so it is awhile before we see a new release. They call the TV the "Trick Box" here. Some here only live for what's on and you can get assaulted quick for arguments over what is to be on or changing a channel. I like Nirvana, also, I respect Tom Waits' writing.

You may be surprised how you would do in Georgia near Atlanta or in it. But its not the Big Apple. I imagine you would make friends where you want. Like I said before, one of my best girlfriends was from Rochester. I tend to speed it up too and get annoyed.

I have not been allowed contact with my sons since this time 2004. It always is hard for me and will continue to be. Their being kept from my mother and side of the family is an injustice that continues to be perpetrated by my in-laws. Nothing is ever enforced on them. I cannot call or write them or anything. I write them and send the letters and cards to my mother to keep so that one day maybe whthey can see I never forgot them. They live with my sister-in-law now. The one falsely portrayed as a heroine in the movie. None of those scenes actually happened, nor did the conversations. It must have really be a distortion because when she emailed my brother and disclaiming the movie before it aired.

I have received letters and interview requests as of recent. I will be forced now to at some time make a true account of things to counter the barrage of falsehoods portrayed as fact just so I may sometime have an opportunity at parole.

Anyway, I had no intention of rattling on for so long.

Hopefully, I will hear from you before your trip. If not, have fun, be careful, and soak in your Christmas and New Year in a memorable way.

Bart

Letters from the Inside, Sarah Pender, #21

Dear Kelly,

I received a postcard & card yesterday and a letter today. The holiday delayed things, as well as our facility move. My new address is: [redacted].

It's a bigger facility, but I'm still stuck in a room, this one colder, smaller, more isolated, and with a rash of not-so-gracious staff.

My mind is slipping away.

And in the meantime, I write away.

I called mom today and she said everything was worked out on the blog. Thanks, Kelly. She still has problems posting. I guess she only has a notepad on her computer and it wouldn't copy and paste correctly. If it's not one thing, it's another. We just keep trudging along.

I liked the vintage postcard. We got that pressed turkey load, matching ham, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and biscuit, stuffing and pumpkin dessert for lunch and bologna for dinner. :) That's how the holidays go here. Nice lunch, bagged dinner to let the kitchen workers off 1/2 day.

You are stressed because you are losing clients and can't find work in NY. You cannot find new clients nor a regular permanent job. What about the Teaching Fellow job? And none of your friends have any leads for you? I understand you are worried, facing a serious deficit between what you'll be earning vs. your basic expenses. That would be depressing. In the meantime, aren't there plenty of seasonal jobs? Every year, companies hire people for a few months through the holidays. Even a month-long job could help toward the loss of your one clients until you 1) find another and b) get where you are permanently employed.

You could also make $120/day as a housekeeper. I hear New Yorkers pay well for white English-speaking women.

I'm sorry if that somehow offended you. I am really just trying to help. When I worked and needed extra money, I went to a local restaurant and worked P/T as a salad girl. I stayed so busy with 2 jobs that I didn't have time to spend money. I saved up for what I needed and did fine. In 3 months, I'd quit with them knowing I could come back whenever I needed cash. Perhaps that is beneath you, or not acceptable as a quality of life, but my Dad taught me 2 things: you do what you must when shit gets hard and anyone can find a job in a day if you want one badly enough. Even as America's Most Wanted Woman, I managed to get 2 respectable jobs in less than 30 days. Maybe you need to move to the Midwest to make that happen? Ever consider working for the government?

Just an idea.

I hope you are able to enjoy your trip to Japan, even with this stress. As beautiful as it is, packed with a wholly different culture, you can visit lots of places and experiences without paying out the ass.

Maybe you need a roommate.

Maybe you'll meet a wealthy, intriguing, neat guy in Tokyo who would love to treat and you Stef to a few days of extraordinary events. Maybe you'll fall in love. Maybe he'll be a knight in shining armor!

A girl can dream.

Wil you do a traditional Japanese tea? See geisha girls? Wear a kimono? Sit on the floor to eat? go to a temple? What modern attractions do you want to see? When will you leave to go?
Pictures, pictures, pictures!

Perhaps you can go se the flamboyant gay Cuban seer guy and he can tell you waht to do. I hope it doesn't include fresh pig blood or lives chickens. Take your RAID and secretly spray the protective roaches when he isn't looking. :)

I hope you have good news.

Sarah

Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #65

Dear KK,

OK, one-eye Wolverine--with a bit more time than my rushed letter on Thursday, let me more properly answer your most interesting letter. I'm actually starting this on Saturday--your "sacred" Saturday--so you're already in my thoughts...

In the latest episode of that quirky FX series, "The League", I noticed that Mr. Schaeffer was not only creator and producer, but also director. So this series truly is his baby.

Another topic, before I forget: Anyone with a life, let alone a busy one like yours (despite your protests to the contrary) could not possibly see or follow a fourth of the shows on television. Even I can't! But I'd thought I would mentioned some of the other good television I've noticed the past few months:

[Ed. He lists: The Mentalist, The Good Wife, Sons of Anarchy, & Mercy.]

To your letter, m'lady: (in order/ so I don't miss anything):

>Love Chinese food, Kelly. Actually their version here is pretty good. As is all the food for the most part.

>In Africa I probably ate native foods much more than most other Westerners. Where we might to a pigroast here, in Zimbabwe they would slaughter & roast a couple of goats. Their African preparation is marvelous. No question you would be a fan.

Maize (corn) on the cob is a stable. You can buy them from vendors on the street--cooked to order over a fire. Until the economy collapsed and the farms were decimated, Zimbabwe was renowned for its beef. We're talking super-prime rib & cuts of all kinds. And incredibly inexpensive by our standards.

>I am of course not surprised that you are familiar with and fascinated by the Bernardo/Homolka case from Canada. I absolutely wnat to know more myself. My offer regarding one of those paperbacks remains open---IF you are willing. So much to discuss...

Just based on my limited knowledge, I think Karla was under Bernardo's control to some degree. Her low self-esteem plus Bernardo's ultra-"charmer" personality...were certainly part of it. I mean, they killed her own sister.

Do not underestimate the sexual power that Bernardo held over her. Again--a subject worth much more detailed discussion.

KK--Have the Canadians make any documentaries and/or films on the case? AND: Can you find out the latest on Ms. Homolka? Are the Toronto columnists still railing against her plea deal?

>The Universe hasn't said S___! You weren't chosen for one interview for one fellowship. The Universe is MUCH larger.

>Yes, the "abortion doctor" story was not pleasant, but I can tell you taht there are those rare but critical times when such procedures are medically imperative. and all women should know that the current politician du jour--Ms. Palin--if she had her way--would outlaw abortion even for rape and incest. Stunning.

Wow-that's about half of your letter: a good thing that came in a small package.

>I apologize for my "cryptic comments". Along with my OCD underlining, it is (I suppose) part of my effort to make our letters more like face-to-face conversation. My bad. No, nothing about a song or anyone else. Howver-it has been my experience that one of the best ways to know someone (in such circumstances as these) is by knowing the music or books or songs or interests that truly move them.

i.e. -- lay in dark room and listen to Ravel's "Bolero" or the first movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A.

OR Jeff Buckley's aching version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen and Sara McLaughlin's "In the Arms of an Angel."

KK--This is one reason why I would love to read a book or article or story that is particularly close to your heart---to understand and know you better.

Something about all four of these pieces of music touch something inside -- more than the average of such things for most people, or so it seems. and many more. Strange as it may seem for someone with my history, music is deeply, intricately, & intimately a part of me.

Isofar as my "willing & open partner:" I sense that you keep much of yourself separate from your letters. And that is, of course, perfectly OK. Unusual though, in that I may have mentioned that most people who have written want to discuss anything and everything. Remoteness & written word seem to foster a degree of openness and frankness.

But in so many ways, you are quite special--and I hope that as we continue to write and exchange thoughts & ideas we will grow closer and more free in our many discussions!

And I will try to avoid such cryptic comments in the future. Promse.

Must wrap this up so it goes out in the mail this evening. There will be, unfortunately, enough mail delays with the many holidays, especially on this end.

So briefly:

>Not surprised at all that your idea of a great Thanksgiving is cooking for one plus TV! You & I would get along just fine on holidays, KK! Since I was in college, I've worked virtually ever holiday of any consequence in some medical capacity. Some great holiday stories when we get to them...

They serve holiday meals here.

>A final note on music: It is rare that a pop song gets my attention: Mercy by Duffy was one in 7/08.

But--forget her bizarre get-ups & makeup: Lady GaGa's "Bad Romance" is hypnotic & brilliantly done. I can see it playing non-stop in the dance clubs. Add "Gossip Girl" and "Twilight/New Moon/Vampires" and I guess I"m 1/4th teenage girl!

You take care and stay well. Thinking of you. Have a safe holiday.

Yours,

Michael

P.S. OMG! KK-Fantastic!

As this letter goes out on Monday, I just received your most recent letter. In which we hear of Kelly's very potential NYC Teaching Fellowship after mistakingly being told "NO". Now you're at the final interview stage.

As mentioned earlier, I told you the Universe had not spoken, F___ no!

AND you are going ot the Far East for the holidays! Postacards for moi from everywhere!

Wow--So much good news--I am truly happy for you.

Must mail this now--Will discuss abo ve & more in next letter(s).

XOXO