Get out yer stonin' stones.

[trumancoyote]

Whoops.

[maestrowork]

NO NO NO NO NO.

You can't give up so easily!!!!

NO NO NO...

You didn't come so far and pull a Mario...

NO NO NO.


We won't have it.

[mommie4a]

let me say it again

no no no no no no

[mommie4a]

I just can't keep it up

Zach, you are the last person on the face of the earth to say that you can't keep it up! Come ON!

[firehorse]

Oh, Zach!

This isn't awful of you, but it is a loss for the rest of us who love reading your work.

I wish there were a way to work this out, like a "get one week free" pass or something. This seems to be Crazy Week for most of us - but for you most of all. I want to encourage you to stay in the contest, but I also know what it's like to be pulled in five directions at once and have to prioritize (and flights to China - yeah, that's kind of an unworkable deadline). For what it's worth, I had you picked for the final three.

You are a phenomenal writer; every time I read anything you write, I'm always left wanting more. You have such a gift, and I hope you continue to use and develop it. You're so much better at 21 than I am at 38; I just know we'll see you in The New Yorker and winning all sorts of literary prizes. (Oh yeah, and bestseller, too - so you can live lavishly and not need a day job.)

Please keep in touch - I don't know how good Internet access is in China (five years ago, it was incredibly restricted, except in Hong Kong), but don't disappear on us.

:kiss:
Sarah

p.s. You're also damned cute, so don't put yourself down, okay? ;)

[trumancoyote]

I'm just bein' practical guys. I honestly don't have any time and I don't know when I'm going to have a computer connection again.

[maestrowork]

Poor kid. Can't you write on the plane? Then hook up to the Internet at the airport or the university? I am SURE the university will have internet.

You can write on the trains too.

[JennaGlatzer]

They have wi/fi in airports these days... ya got a laptop?

[firehorse]

I feel like I'm going to cry. I want to encourage you to do whatever's necessary to stay in the contest, but I have a selfish motivation - I love your writing.

I also know you've had a lot of pressure and that you feel pressure intensely. Is there anything else you could drop instead of this?

If you somehow can find a way to continue, I will be extraordinarily happy. If not, I respect your decision, and I'll be disappointed, but not disappointed in you. There's a big difference. You still rock.

(And I'll be writing my entry in airports and on planes this weekend, so if you go that route, know that I'm doing the same)

[trumancoyote]

Aiyo, you guys.

I'll try. No promises, though.

I'll have to look up the time differences and such; I don't have a laptop but here's hopin' I can find someone that does.

Troublesome, troublesome.

[firehorse]

Yay!!! :hooray: :hooray: :hooray:

[firehorse]

Psst... You're not flying via Logan or Pearson by any chance? I could maybe loan you my laptop for an hour ;)

(Somehow I think Boston is probably not on the route from Arizona to China - and Toronto even less so)

Hey - you've given me hope! If you can write while juggling all the things you have going, then I can, too. I have no excuse. Thanks :)

[Celeste]

Am I gonna' have to whip you again, Zach??? http://bestsmileys.com/whipping/2.gif

You are not going to withdraw from AW Idol!!! :mad:

[jdkiggins]

Come on, Zach. I just bought a lap top to work at my mom's house since I just moved in. I've had a real plate full this week with her in the hospital, and honestly thought I might not make the deadline this week, but I'm still going to give it my best shot.

You do what's best for you. Good luck, either way. I'll miss your entries if you don't make deadline.

[Celeste]

Zach, you are the last person on the face of the earth to say that you can't keep it up! Come ON!

For some reason the way you worded that post just makes me laugh! :ROFL:

[Mr Underhill]

So, I guess this game doesn't allow pinch-hitters?

[maestrowork]

Come on, Zach. I just bought a lap top to work at my mom's house since I just moved in. I've had a real plate full this week with her in the hospital, and honestly thought I might not make the deadline this week, but I'm still going to give it my best shot.

You do what's best for you. Good luck, either way. I'll miss your entries if you don't make deadline.

Woo hoo, Joanne. Congrats on your laptop.

And Zach, get back to work!

[BlueTexas]

I missed the original post...damn.

Good Luck, Zach, whatever you decide to do, even if you must deprive us of a Chinese cultural take on the coming themes....

[astonwest]

Well, a local girl had been caught with the town priest, both of them with their pants down, on top of the altar...

So, we all gathered around the town square at sunrise. I picked up the biggest, smoothest, roundest rock I could find.........

Oops, wrong stonin'?

[KTC]

No...excuse me! I demand something from you. No, "I'll try". Get on your bike and pedal! Write it on the bus...write it in the house...write it on a mouse. I demand that you write something about HOPE right now. Write about hoping to get a piece written down. Write about BOB HOPE, for crissakes! Write about the Hope that springs eternal and helps us to write when we think we don't have time to write. I demand a truman coyote piece this round. Don't make me come and whip ya, boy! Thelma...pass me that bullwhip...we gots us a boy needs a beatin'!!!!!

Zach...write...write in the crack of dawn when you should be sleeping. Just write!

[Fractured_Chaos]

*clears throat*

*in her best Yoda voice*

"Do... or do not. There is no try."


...


In all seriousness, Zach, I hope you can find a way. I'd hate to see you bow out when you're this close!

[William Haskins]

i'm livid. you wouldn't like me when i'm livid.

[trumancoyote]

That's why I'm gonna buck up and write it; don't want to lose anyone's respect.

Sorry guys. I'll be good.

[William Haskins]

good man. because i swear to every god out there, if i had to come all the way to china to beat your a$s, they'd be picking you up with chop sticks.

[maestrowork]

good man. because i swear to every god out there, if i had to come all the way to china to beat your a$s, they'd be picking you up with chop sticks.

i was thinking about that, but then I realized Zach might actually like it!

[mdmkay]

good man. because i swear to every god out there, if i had to come all the way to china to beat your a$s, they'd be picking you up with chop sticks.

Awwww with such an outpouring of love like that how could you possibly resist? We all love you Zach no matter what you decide.

[sgtsdaughter]

Zach . . .

just write something. producing "crap" (which i have my doubts about) will still make you a better player and person than someone who throws in the towel too soon. besides, do you really want to live with the "could have beens?"

[DJP]

Zach,

I haven't been able to get online until now, but I can't believe you were thinking of quitting, your writing is amazing. Just sit down and let something pour out, it would be better than quitting. You can do it, Zach, we believe in you.:Thumbs:

[edfrzr]

Whew!!! That was a close one! I'm just glad the ego strokers were on duty to save the day.


just remember, there is no kryptonite

[KTC]

Thank you Zach. I appreciate you putting yourself out. I love your prose!

[William Haskins]

me, too. i firmly believe this is his contest to lose.

[rhymegirl]

Zach, if you quit, I'll slap you with a wet towel.

[William Haskins]

has anyone heard from zach yet?

has the red army already shot him in the back of the neck?

[jdkiggins]

I guess all our questions have been answered. It's after midnight and Zach didn't post. Dang! I was hoping he would.

[William Haskins]

well, sh*t.

i'm extraordinarily disappointed. real life is what it is, but that kid's got a lot of talent, and i was really rooting for him.

if you check in, zach, hope you're having a safe and wonderful trip.

[sgtsdaughter]

Does suck that he didn't post . . . seems like a sad let down.

[trumancoyote]

**** :( I messed up the timezone by an hour.

Oh well. My entry was 400 words too long and I didn't have any time to edit it as I should. I posted it anyway for good measure -- to at least show that I tried.

Sorry for lettin' you guys down. It's been more than an honor to compete with you all.

... and China rocks :)

[maestrowork]

Zach, don't you have those nifty world-clock thingies? (I totally understand the time zone issue. I was so confused when I was in Asia...)

Glad to hear that China rocks. You're a lucky bastid. Enjoy, and nurse that jet lag with some hard rice wine, like Mao Tai! And take lots of pictures.