The Harbinger

Back in October 2006 I went to a birthday party for Chuck (Uselesslegs). While I was there I stepped out to smoke and I bumped into our lord Despot and his sidekick The Jaf . After a little small talk (and him figuring out who I was) The Jaf turned to me and said

“when can I expect a 200 word essay on Politics”

I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I figured he thought I really was lilmike. So I said

“ummm what?”

The Jaf said that he wanted me to write 200 words for the next issue of the Harbinger. I didn’t know what to think. Either the ‘Kewl Kids Club’, an elitist club that likes to play inside jokes on people, was setting me up…. Or he really wanted me to write something.

After thinking it over I figured I’d give it a try.

The Jaf said I should think of a name but I really suck at that so I asked him for some suggestions. He came back with

“Proper Gander”

“A skewed View”

And

“Velvet cooter”

Yeah ok , it wasn’t velvet cooter but it was velvet something.. I liked it.. But I liked the other 2 choices more. I couldn’t pick between them so I said “screw it.. From here on out it will be know as…

“Proper Gander”
(A skewed view)

With the name out of the way I found out that I had a real problem. One that I didn’t know if I could fix. It seems as though I can go on and on and on about things (I know, right) and a 200 word limit was just way too restricting. Try as I might I couldn’t get my ‘rants’ down to 200 words. So I went to The Jaf and asked him what to do. His answer.. “Just write whatever and use however many words you want, I’ll find a space to put you” (we were using a newspaper column format back then)…… after I got the approval….well, history was made.

I’ve written about politics, rednecks, disasters, gay things, black things, retarded things , happy things, sad things , scary things, sexual things and of course Bush administration things. Hell I even wrote a sonnet. I have had a great time doing it every week or every other week or whenever I can. I don’t know if I have a ‘following’ anymore than any of us do. But I would still be doing it even if I didn’t. Why The Jaf and The Despot picked me I’ll never know… was it because of an elitist joke? Did they just need someone to fill a space? Or were they really interested in seeing what I’d do…. I still don’t know the answer to that and I don’t care. I’m just glad I was asked.

The Harbinger is going the way of dinosaur now. I’m sad to see it go. I have a routine of getting my Sunday morning coffee and clicking on the ‘Harb’ and reading it to start my day. I will miss that. It’s become a routine that I enjoy immensely so I will savor being able to this one last time today. Everyone who is or has ever been a part of the Harbinger has put their time and alot of effort into their words in the hopes of amusing, informing, predicting, comforting and feeding us all.

Thank you!

In case you are wondering what I am going to do with all these pent up words I will have now.. Or in case you are saying “Oh shit, ekg doesn’t have an outlet anymore.. Mommy, I’m afraid” Don’t worry, The Despot has been kind enough to offer me a space on the front page of Muchedumbre. I don’t have a set schedule yet but I have something to say pretty much all the time. (no, really HA!) So stop by and say “Hi” whenever you get a chance…. Or if your Fred send some **** my way on the weekends when you have nothing better to do but read a few entries.. J

Mickey, Geoff, Jacki, Sean, and everyone else who made the Harbinger possible… Thank you for everything you’ve done. Thank you for giving me the opportunity and the place to vent a little. It’s been a great ride and I’m sorry to see it go. My personalized desk name plate will always sit on the top shelf of my desk and I will always be grateful you included me in your endeavor.

(Btw, at this point . I am at 688 words…So ya see, I couldn’t do 200 if my life depended on it! HA!)

(and check the links )

ekg is
Email this author | All posts by ekg