Oh, dear. Sick because of nerves? Let's hope that goes away right quick as you do more signings and readings and things.

OK, so my friend sends me this article about how emoticons are becoming de rigueur in some parts of the business world these days, and can you believe it, blah, blah, blah. But the thing that stands out to me about the article is this:

~(_8^(I)

A Homer Simpson emoticon! (It looks better in the e-mail, more smooshed). Anyway, I'm sure it's, like, fifteen years old, but I'd never seen it before, and what with just having seen the Simpsons movie, it made me laugh.

Also... really? Emoticons in business correspondence? I'm taking a poll: Who here either uses or receives serious business e-mail that seriously uses emoticons? I'm fascinated by this.

I'm taking a poll, who here either uses or receives serious business e-mail that seriously uses emoticons?

No and hell no. But the Homer one is fabulous!

Also... really? Emoticons in business correspondence? I'm taking a poll, who here either uses or receives serious business e-mail that seriously uses emoticons? I'm fascinated by this.

Most of our clients are not very internet savvy, so they'd just be confused....

But the Homer one is fabulous!

Innit?? I told him that I'm going to use that one all the time now (I'll find ways!) and that it's completely his fault.

D'oh!

t /~(_8^(I)

(OK, but I won't keep doing it here. Virtual pinky swear.)

I have used :) in business emails, but it's to lighten the tone. Takes the place of a stupid face I might have made in a F2F encounter.

OK, so my friend sends me this article about how emoticons are becoming de rigueur in some parts of the business world these days

Oh my Jesus. The end is extremely fucking nigh.

Also... really? Emoticons in business correspondence? I'm taking a poll: Who here either uses or receives serious business e-mail that seriously uses emoticons? I'm fascinated by this.

I might use them in email with co-workers where we're semi-joking, but never ever in email with anyone outside my pod. Part of my job is to do with Freedom of Information requests and we're always trying to educate people to be mindful of what they write in official correspondence, because "embarrassment in not an exemption." That said, I did find a memo once, written to a nun, with the sign-off "May the Force be with you." !!!

That said, I did find a memo once, written to a nun, with the sign-off "May the Force be with you." !!!

Heh.

I'm listening to The Splendid Table and guess what?

They have truffles in Saudi Arabia!

I have this long, thin bruise on the back of my arm. I keep seeing it out of the corner of my eye in mirrors, and thinking, "What the schmutz?"

Getting the bruise involved leaning to counterbalance a giant bag of ice cream, and overcompensating myself into a doorway.

I am somewhat lacking in grace.