We used to get on planes, and they'd ask who we were, and we'd say, 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet', and they'd say, 'Who?' In later years they'd say, 'Oh', which amounts to the same thing.

Glenn could see I was bricking it and turned round to me as I sat there, gripping the armrests.
"You all right?" he said.
"I hate flying, Boss. I'm shitting myself."
"Don't worry, Merse. It's going to be OK. We *won't* crash."
I thought, "Thank God for that. Glenn's said we're going to be safe. Nothing's going to fuck with us now.

All but Dave on the end peg struggled for anything other than really small roach - four or five to the ounce - until the last half-hour. Then most of the field began to sample the quality roach Dave had been catching for most of the match.

Writing is like jazz. It can be learned, but it can't be taught.

I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.

I think I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted it to sound like a dry martini.