Someone recently described exposure to my work as a similar experience to getting kicked in the teeth. I wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this beyond recommending a good dentist. This, of course, was a sham as I have not been to the dentist in several years. The best I could do would be to front with 1-800-DENTIST and hope for the best. By the way, this book was not endorsed by 1-800-DENTIST but I do wish them the best.

What exactly does it mean to be one's own Orange County? I'll tell you. It's about being self critical. When you read your poetry in Orange County, you'll find the audience more interactive; often critiquing your poem outloud while you read it. Now, read the title poem of the book and put the rest together.

It's not that I don't think dental hygiene is important. I brush and floss every day. My teeth are doing fine. I have no problem smiling with my mouth open. In fact, I am doing so right now.

This is my second book, and first true anthology of my work, collected over the last seven years, featuring many of the things I've had published various places, as well as things so special that I am the only one who agreed to publish them.

I'm not trying to portray myself as a member of the Osmond family. Now there were some teeth. Shiny, shiny shiny! I'm sad that the Osmonds don't get as much attention these days. This, of course, is also how I feel about Mr. T.

I cheated when I published my first book Paris: It's The Cheese. Although a fine body of work, it only contained poems I had written during a two week period in Paris. It wasn't representational of what I had written during the six years I had been writing.

When I was in Paris I saw a dubbed-to-French version of The A-Team. When Mr. T. spoke, instead of the angry, yet powerful voice I had been accustomed to, there was a white-guy french voice. It made me realize that Paris is not such an easy city to live in for someone like me.

One thing which I think made Paris: It's The Cheese good was it's thematic nature. I have tried to capture that in I Am My Own Orange County by arranging the book into ten themed sections. This approach also made it easier for me to pick poems from the overwhelming amount of material I have written. (It may well be that my next book is also a collection of writings from 1990 to 1997.)

Who am I kidding? My teeth are rotting out my face along with every one of my internal organs. I have rotting organ syndrome. It's caused by being pompous and never going to the dentist. My spleen is rotting most of all. Soon I will have a spleenectomy.

The truth is, I write to entertain. Occasionally something with more depth surfaces amidst my attempts at humor. I don't take myself too seriously, and am at the same time, much too self critical. That's what this book is about. (and all of the individual poems are about their own individual things too.)

There used to be laws which prohibited one from reading poetry in public places if one didn't have a full compliment of bodily organs. This is why I fully compliment my organs before I read my work. You might hear me saying "You're such a good liver", or "I am in love with my trachea" before any given reading. If I had a uterus, there would be no end to my self internal-grandiosity.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in every way in my writing adventures. I wouldn't be able to do it without you.

March 30, 1997