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	This week's ReEntry editor is a mean, scowling jaded Manhattanite who's currently developing a mean case of carpal tunnel from this online journaling thing. Meet... Damiana Saranwarp damiana@saranwarp.com

While I don't see Mark A. Thomas parading himself around the 'journal community,' really, I have to say I stop by his site often. And I really do mean often.

In a frenzy to find a site that was just a little less well-known, and that had some darn updates in October (what's with everyone not updating this month? Are we all as frazzled as I am?), I decided just to cut to the chase and choose sides.

I'm with the New Yorkers.

Mark A. Thomas

What can I say? I'm partial  there's a certain dry humor that comes only from living in New York, and I like it. Not only that, but while sometimes I enjoy reading about people who don't share my same lifestyle, I still find it more than comforting to know that I'm not the only one out there worried about the scowl on my face.

Mark Thomas, like some other New Yorkers I know, has a penchant for profanity. I don't mind, however  when he relates a story, it's with that flair only we New Yorkers have for inserting a four letter word where really, nothing else will fit. As well, for the most part we have difficulty taking ourselves seriously, and are fond of self depreciation. Take, for instance, this excerpt of Mark's, from September 8, 1998, entitled "Flossing with Steel Wax":

"The first memory I have from 6 months of seeing a therapist is how she always shook her head and said that my problems were nothing new, they were the same as everyone else's, get over yourself you pompous bag of gas."

The Fish Rants

Another one that I just recently discovered (and have been patiently waiting for an update to appear  thank you Fish!) is Fish. Fish is your resident geek and tres groovy designer, and has just recently joined the ranks of NewYorkdom, but he's already high on my list of "when the heck is he going to post again?" checks. Here's an excerpt from "Why I am Fish":

"I found that it was to my advantage to call myself fish, because instead of being tortuously made fun of at all times for someting or other, people would make fun of my name for a while and then stop dissing me completely. Like, the fish thing distracted them from making fun of the fact that people would rather spend time with a chunk of dirt than yours truly at that age."

Even funnier, tho, is the latest rant, regarding, among other things, a trip to the grocery store:

"I swear, I saw the extra sharp cheddar, I reached fro the extra sharp cheddar, but what ends up in my cart? What, I ask you? F**king swiss, that's what. I was all psyched to crack open a brand-new, virginal chunk of cheddar. So strong was my desire that I dropped to my knees and howled in anguish when I read the real name of my cheese, mockingly written in italicized Verdana. Argh."

Puce

And then there's Puce.

For those of you dying to know, Puce is the name for the color that currently serves as a background for puce.com. She maintains not only an open, available to all journal, but a private one as well that you have to email request a password to. From her latest entry, October 6, 1998:

"i am perfectly aware that i'm much too analytical and read too far into things. nevertheless, this is disconcerting. what makes it worse is that when i glance at my reflection at windows as i pass by, i see that i've already unconsciously adopted the 'nyc mask.' maybe that's why people don't talk to me(excluding perverted construction men and guys at deli shops. joy.) i don't look friendly."

See? Really, we do worry about these things.

Original "ReEntry" concept by Gus () and other DIARY-L participants.