Der Stuff Innenseite
Monstress World Tour 2000
Stranger Than the New $20 Bill
March
19, 2000
Today is Sunday and I woke up at 6 a.m. But in my own defense, it is noon in Germany, where I was this time yesterday. But after a seven-hour flight sitting in a bulkhead seat next to a large, chatty, smelly, somewhat inebriated man, I'm glad to be home in New Jersey, even if my luggage is still in Amsterdam. It's probably having a better time than I am.
But if I would have to choose one day of the week to get up really early, Sunday would be it. I've already filled out my 2000 census form, paid two Union City parking tickets, got a better deal on my long-distance telephone service and made myself a grilled cheese sandwich, all before 10 a.m.
But, lets get back to the interesting part. I traveled to Germany. My dear sweet friend Aminda and I visited three cities in three different countries in just one day last week. We didn't sleep much but I walked my butt off. So that's why this issue of Monstress is dedicated to the joys, sorrows and even the heartbreak that accompany traveling.
I'm going to try really hard to avoid making this issue a diary of my trip, because that isn't too interesting to anybody other than Aminda and I. But I just have to mention how infintantly cooler Europe is than the United States, although I can make an exception for France because when I was there a few years ago, they were kind of rude to me and some random man groped on the street. I didn't like that too much. But I'm willing to give France a second chance for no other reason than the croissants.
So what else has been going on in Monstress-land? I haven't received any letters about issue #1 yet, mostly because the only readers were my friends and family, who have to say nice things. My spelling or grammar hasn't been criticized yet so I consider it a huge success.
The invitation to write to me and tell me about whatever Monstress-type things you are up to is always open. I really want to re-iterate that although this zine is kind of woman-oriented (which is just because I am a woman, last time I checked), that doesn't mean that men don't have a voice here. Before I started issue #1, I wrote to a good friend of mine to ask for some of his words of wisdom, since he is one of the wisest people I know, male or female. He as swept up the pieces of my broken heart more than once and he is one of the most talented writers I know. He declined my offer, citing a challenging day job as a sports writer. So I sent him#1. He wrote back saying that he'll try to write something for me now that he knows Monstress isn't all about man-bashing. I thought to myself, "Why would he think I would write such things?" Then I remembered the broken heart episodes. My friend didn't write anything for me this time, but it's the thought that counts.
I kind of like the idea of theme issues. It's fun to come up with interesting ways to think about a topic, like Germany. So the theme of the next Monstress is New Jersey, birthplace of Martha Stewart and the Toxic Avenger. Give me your thoughts on the subject, even if you think the only sign of life on the New Jersey Turnpike is "Lincoln Tunnel, exit 16 E."
Danke for reading.
Monstress
P.O. Box 576
Union City NJ 07087-0576
email: erica@monstress.org