Oregon Writers Colony A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS
<Martha Miller> via gmail June 1 to me
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for registering for OWC's workshop with Donald Maass. Bring plenty of note-taking materials and be prepared to learn how to craft emotional fiction.
We look forward to seeing you at the workshop. In the meantime, happy writing!
Martha Miller,
OWC Workshop Coordinator
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 2 To Martha
Martha, and OWC - THANK YOU!
He is an all star coach - I have been looking for a workshop with him and I am SO very pleased he's coming to Portland. I am a new OWC member but have been writing for years.
THANKS again!
Barb Ayers
Surf Dog Diaries, www.DogDiary.org
<Martha Miller> via gmail Attachment June 3 To Me
Oh! So you're a dog lady!
Sofi Miller
Just visited your website. Loved it.
Wish I could meet you, but my 'mom' won't let me come to the Oregon Writer’s Colony workshop. I have to stay home and guard the house.
Sofi Miller
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail Attachment June 5 To Martha
Dear Sofi:
Doodle Ayers, DogDiary.org
Hey there - just saw this email to my mom. Aren't you a cutie!!?
Want to chase a call together?
:) Doodle Ayers
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 5 To Martha
Dear Sofi:
Ooops! I meant - I want to chase A BALL together!!
My toenails don't work so great on a laptop....
Doodle
< Martha Miller > via gmail June 5 (8 days ago) To me
Well, my dear Doodle . . .
I'm not sure . . . if you can't even spell ball . . .
But let's give it a try.
Sofi
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 5 To Martha
What - are you the grammar police, darling Sophi?
A guy should get credit for being a gnarly dog athlete... on top of that, I can assure you, I write a dog blog - so I can form a sentence.
What I am not good at, is catching that spell check feature that changes words on you, without even asking.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
D
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 5 to Martha
Oops, Sofi
That may have been the deal breaker... think I bungled your name..... it’s f, not ph.
I knew that.
Doodle
<Martha Miller> via gmail Attachment Jun 5 To me
Dear Doodle:
I just wrote rules for my house.
Actually, I didn't really write them. I found them on Facebook. Here they are.
You might want to instigate them at your house. My boss isn't sure about them, but she usually goes along with whatever I decide is best for the house.
Sofi
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 7 To Martha
Hey Sofi!
I skipped right to #10. That's the most important one.
Toodles,
Doodle
<Martha Miller> via gmail June 7 To me
It's me Sofi - on my best side. I'm a Havanese (official dog of Havana, bred from Bichons.) Photo: Martha Miller
Doodles,
I'm glad you noticed number 10. It's a critical rule.
I used to sleep in a crate, but convinced my mom that she needed me to stand guard during the night. My favorite spot now is on the pillow right next to her. When she snores, I move to the foot of the bed.
Sofi
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail June 9 To Martha
It's me, Doodle. With my sleepy face. Photo: Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Sofi:
No way! Your mom snores?!?
Thought that was our job....
Doodle
<Martha Miller> via gmail June 10 To me
Doodles,
Wish I were going to the hotel this morning, but I have to stay home and guard the house.
Sofi
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries> via gmail Attachment June 11 To Martha
Dear Sofi:
O M G, mom came home, all jazzed up from the writer's workshop last night! It must have been intense. She left at 7 and got home at 7. My din din was late. Then, we immediately curled up for a nap. As usual, I took over snoring duty.
Hope to see you soon - at a dog park or another event in Portland. Why aren't writer events dog friendly?
Or - come on out here to the Gorge and I'll take you pup SUPing (stand up paddle boarding) into the sunset with me. Wouldn't that be a great first date................
If you're worried about your hair getting wet - I can just show off on the water and come back for a dog bone picnic with you on shore
Oooh la la!!!
Doodle
<Martha Miller>via gmail June 11 To me
Doodle:
OMG! My mom hasn't let me look at the computer until now. I am SO IMPRESSED. And she's going to tell all her friends about you, Doodle. You'll be famous. And rich, maybe? If you're rich, I might agree to a meeting. My grooming appointments are spendy, you know.
Love,
Soph
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries>via gmail June 12 To Martha
Dear Soph:
Well, now there is a catch. Just ask your mom. A writer's life -- it sounds good - but there's not a lot of dough in it. Which is where the phrase "Don't quit your day job" came from. Ask any artist!
Doodle, DogDiary.org
I'd be happy to be your Sugar Daddy - if any sugar ever comes my way!
Or - if you send any sugar my way.....
I don't want to hurt your feelings- but this is my skeptical face in the picture.
My old BFF Elvis had spendy appointments, too. Not because he was vain or had long hair or was a foo foo dog like you. But basset hounds are stinky.
Just for the record, I'm not stinky.
And wow- the PH in your name is back! Very elegant!
xoxo GF – and PH!
Doodle
Surf Dog Diaries - DogDiary.org
<Martha Miller>via gmail Forwarded message Mon, Jun 12
To me:
Barb
These are my son, Cory's admonitions to Sofi to be careful of online romances. I thought you might want to add them to your posts . . . just in case there are other sweet little pooches out there who might be taken in by such romancin'.
Martha
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Martha Miller
To: Friends and family
Monday, June 12, 8:30 AM
Subject: Sofi in print
Sofi's recent romance with a dog named Doodles has gone online. I hope this link will take you to the site where their correspondence can be seen:
http://dogdiary.org/ surfdogdiaries/completely- random-online-dating-for-dogs- a-true-story/6/2017
xoxo
mm
From: <Cory Miller>
Date: Mon, Jun 12 at 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: Sofi in print
To: Martha Miller
Mom:
Those are just the pictures that are being posted. "Doodles" could very well, in reality, be an unemployed middle-aged man making fur coats in his basement.
Cory
<Martha Miller> via gmail June 12, 9:53 AM Subject: Re: Sofi in print To Cory
Uncle Cory
You made my 'mom' laugh out loud when she read this. I don't think it's very nice of her to make light of what could be a serious situation. I appreciate your wise words of advice. Middle-aged man, in his basement? Make fur coats. How very declasse!
Sofi
On Mon, Jun 12, at 11:55 AM, Subject: Re: Sofi in print <Cory Miller> wrote:
Mom
Tell Sofi to PLEASE BE CAREFUL! There are lots of stalkers and perverts that frequent these chat rooms.
Love,
Uncle Cory
From: <Martha Miller> To: <Cory Miller> Subject: Re: Sofi in print Monday, June 12, 11:04 AM
Uncle Cory
Thank you for your sage words of advice. I will certainly pay attention . . . but Doodles is SO CUTE!
Sofi
<Barb Ayers, SurfDogDiaries>via gmail June 12 To Martha
Dear Martha:
This has just been such fun- thank you so much for the completely random, stream of conscious writing this week - from you, your son and your dog daughter. It was nice meeting you at the OWC event and the others online!
PS - please assure your son, my son is NO PERVERT!!!! He is NOT middle aged and he is NOT a fur coat maker - he is a young, athletic, bright eyed fur coat wearer; a writer dog, ala pictures and posts on DogDiary.org.
And for the record, I am sure your daughter is no gold digger either. She looks and sounds like a real sweetheart.
Thanks again, from our dog-loving family to yours!
:) Barb Ayers
a.k.a. Doodle's mom
<Martha Miller>via gmail June 13 To me
Doodles is a WRITER?
I had no idea. I think I'm in love.