You know, I was really triggered by being redirected with some link to prove that I'm not some AI monster, just to post a comment. That just added 10 more years of therapy, which will be great for my therapist, as she wants to tour Europe, leisurely, for a year and my therapy alone will pay for it. Bon Voyage!
Oh, with that said, a brilliant essay with pictures. I read it, sitting in front of my altar to Patricia Highsmith. I believe my photo of her was giggling as well. As only Rex Reed could deliver, but he's dead now too, "I laughed, I cried."
***after taking my meds***
Excellent and hilarious, Merrill, as always, and, well, too close to the truth!
Thank you. I don't know about this AI stuff and the comments. But obviously algorhythms and code run this site. So I guess we need to be impressed that it is running at all!
I am in awe of the work and time you put into these. These are dark times since Twitter sabotaged itself and Facebook devoted its being into fractured social realities that focus on Texas hold ‘em and some sexy young male comedian named Matt Rife.
I feel so lucky to get to see these.
They represent hope I didn’t know was possible. In the most depressing way imaginable.
what an amazing thing to say, Mr 4. Yeah, I am very sad to see twitter collapse. It was so enjoyable for a while. And all those other things....Mastodon, Post, Blue SKy, Threads...I am on them but I don't understand how you connect with friends on them. At least substack is comprehensible. It's small but you get ownership of a llittle corner. So far that's kinda fun.
Please be careful on Threads! Remember Zuck gave the cops in Nebraska access to ‘private messages’, and now a woman is in jail for a medical procedure. Dark days.
I'd like to cut and paste a couple of your women's faces here, so that you can be as struck by them as I was -- and really appreciate your own brilliance! Thank you for this piece
Thank you for this. The writing! And the art work! Perhaps you would consider comix- you ARE A GRAPHIC SHORT STORY WRITER/ GRAPHIC NOVELIST. We need you in even longer form than Substack!
This one is hysterically funny and for me, sadly ( or happily!!) so true! So personal! That's because I KNOW I'M NUTZ! So I only want crazy friends. And when I think I'll never find anyone crazy again, one or two show up!
I recognize myself and my friends, and some other people I try to avoid in this- I guess all of humanity has mental health issues now. Or maybe now we just have the names for what has been there all along. Thank you holding up a hilarious mirror. If we can’t laugh, we are truly doomed. Thus, you are saving the world.
I used to find “slightly crazy” meant interesting, and still do but I try to steer away from dual-diagnosis people. What’s your number? (of conditions)
A friend of my husband called me "frighteningly well adjusted.".On an unrelated topic, I was recently revisiting that trip to Perugia and finding it pretty awful. Except for the plane crash. You cant argue with a good plane crash. It pretty much MAKES a vacation. Are you still on FB? They have private messaging.
As the daughter of two bipolar parents this hits home. I've been doing this (armchair diagnosing) my whole life. I can even diagnose myself. Maybe that's why I live on a remote island. And this is brilliant and you are brilliant... and I'm grateful we are friends- no matter what that means in the DSM-5-TR.
You know, I was really triggered by being redirected with some link to prove that I'm not some AI monster, just to post a comment. That just added 10 more years of therapy, which will be great for my therapist, as she wants to tour Europe, leisurely, for a year and my therapy alone will pay for it. Bon Voyage!
Oh, with that said, a brilliant essay with pictures. I read it, sitting in front of my altar to Patricia Highsmith. I believe my photo of her was giggling as well. As only Rex Reed could deliver, but he's dead now too, "I laughed, I cried."
***after taking my meds***
Excellent and hilarious, Merrill, as always, and, well, too close to the truth!
Thank you. I don't know about this AI stuff and the comments. But obviously algorhythms and code run this site. So I guess we need to be impressed that it is running at all!
My attempt at humor. I love your page. This entry made me laugh a lot.
I am in awe of the work and time you put into these. These are dark times since Twitter sabotaged itself and Facebook devoted its being into fractured social realities that focus on Texas hold ‘em and some sexy young male comedian named Matt Rife.
I feel so lucky to get to see these.
They represent hope I didn’t know was possible. In the most depressing way imaginable.
Just wow
what an amazing thing to say, Mr 4. Yeah, I am very sad to see twitter collapse. It was so enjoyable for a while. And all those other things....Mastodon, Post, Blue SKy, Threads...I am on them but I don't understand how you connect with friends on them. At least substack is comprehensible. It's small but you get ownership of a llittle corner. So far that's kinda fun.
I really hope substack works. It’s just wild to go from what I imagine was thousands of people seeing what you are doing to... less than that.
Thank you. You are making my world feel small again in the best ways.
Please be careful on Threads! Remember Zuck gave the cops in Nebraska access to ‘private messages’, and now a woman is in jail for a medical procedure. Dark days.
Hilarious, Merrill! As always.
Maybe also stick with you old nuts friends. We’re tried and true. 😀
Haaa. I think you mean trying and true.
Yes. Maybe so. 👀
Just making a joke, Ms. JH. NOT a real assessment. Do not take me seriously.
I'm so glad we are already friends and we donlt have to figure out a way to meet!
Me too! And let's not share our diagnosises.
even with ourselves!
I'd like to cut and paste a couple of your women's faces here, so that you can be as struck by them as I was -- and really appreciate your own brilliance! Thank you for this piece
Farley! I didnt know you were here. Thank you!
By Step 2 I was in explosive laugh heaven.
Wow. I didnt know there was such a heaven. Maybe I should give religion another chance.
Thank you for this. The writing! And the art work! Perhaps you would consider comix- you ARE A GRAPHIC SHORT STORY WRITER/ GRAPHIC NOVELIST. We need you in even longer form than Substack!
This one is hysterically funny and for me, sadly ( or happily!!) so true! So personal! That's because I KNOW I'M NUTZ! So I only want crazy friends. And when I think I'll never find anyone crazy again, one or two show up!
Thank you Amy.. I actually have a graphic novel/memoiry thing out.https://www.amazon.com/We-Saw-Scenery-Diaries-Merrill/dp/1616209038
It's kinda like the stuff I am doing here because ITS BY THE SAME AUTHOR!
I just bought it. Hardcover version, and. not used. You deserve the royalties. Ooh it arrives in two days! I cant wait.
thanks!
HAHAAHHH!
Im sorry I didn't know about it... but now I do! I'm off to Amazon right now!
I love that almost every character looks like they’re gnashing their teeth. And the colors! This is so great.
Thank you Mr. Straub.
Fun and scary!
I needed this! How did I miss this creative and hilarious post?
Thank you. With new people, I admit my screwiness up-front. My kind will stay while the others flee.
I recognize myself and my friends, and some other people I try to avoid in this- I guess all of humanity has mental health issues now. Or maybe now we just have the names for what has been there all along. Thank you holding up a hilarious mirror. If we can’t laugh, we are truly doomed. Thus, you are saving the world.
I wouldn’t have any friends left, but I knew there was a reason we reconnected.
Maureen? Who I met in Italy, right? Forgive me but I am forgetting if that is your married name. Maureen Rack, right?
Yep, me.
YAY
Where do you live now? Actually, we shouldnt be having this conversation here, probably. I dont know if there is private messaging here.
I used to find “slightly crazy” meant interesting, and still do but I try to steer away from dual-diagnosis people. What’s your number? (of conditions)
I myself, am totally normal.
A friend of my husband called me "frighteningly well adjusted.".On an unrelated topic, I was recently revisiting that trip to Perugia and finding it pretty awful. Except for the plane crash. You cant argue with a good plane crash. It pretty much MAKES a vacation. Are you still on FB? They have private messaging.
Yes, under my real name!
That was a very depressing ending, Ms. Markoe. 🤓
I didnt mean YOU, Madame Fisk. YOU are PERFECT the way you ARE!!
Ba ha ha! Now, THAT's funny. Miss you! Loving your art with your humor!
But sometimes crazy friends make great Late Night TV shows, right ?
As the daughter of two bipolar parents this hits home. I've been doing this (armchair diagnosing) my whole life. I can even diagnose myself. Maybe that's why I live on a remote island. And this is brilliant and you are brilliant... and I'm grateful we are friends- no matter what that means in the DSM-5-TR.
SO you are THAT Nina?
In the virtual flesh.
Hahahahaha! Ouch