Go Ahead and Buy the Fancy Pack of 50 Colored Pencils! — It Turns Out the Naming Rights! Membership Option Was For Real and Someone Is Now Five Hundred Bucks Poorer Presents Nat

They say that people that came of age during the height of the Great Depression maintained that Depression mentality throughout their lives no matter well they did or how comfortable they became.

So even though they’d saved plenty for retirement and owned their own homes they’d still pinch pennies in preparation for that inevitable moment when everything went to shit again and they found themselves struggling mightily just to get by.

I understand that because I also grew up with a Great Depression mentality. I did not grow up during the Great Depression, of course. I’m old but I’m not that old. But I did grow up motherless and poor in a group home on the north side of Chicago.

I wish I had saved more for my retirement and still owned my own home but I continue to pinch pennies in preparation for that inevitable moment when everything will inevitably go to shit again and I find myself struggling mightily just to get by.

This helps explain why, when I got MAJORLY into adult coloring books last year as the author of The Weird A-Coloring to Al and spent long, joyous hours coloring in Felipe and my book I inevitably used the 12 pack of colored pencils that I send to everyone who buys three copies of my baby.

I guess I figured that twelve colors were enough. Do we really need more than just the basics?

To be honest, I didn’t really think about it. If I had, I would have done a quick cost-benefit analysis and figured out that buying a big pack of fancy colored pencils would pay for itself over and over again if people were so wowed by my coloring of Felipe’s images that it made them want to buy copies of The Weird A-Coloring to Al for themselves and their friends and trick or treaters and just random people.

If I’d given it any thought at all I would also realize that if coloring with 12 basic colored pencils gave me so much pleasure then coloring with 50 would bring me even more.

So last week I did something I should have done a year ago: I splurged and bought a pack of 50 colored pencils for eight dollars and ninety nine cents.

As some of y’all have figured out by now, I am not a wealthy man. Or a smart man. Or a dignified man. Or a man with most of his teeth. But I can, in fact, afford to spend eight dollars and ninety nine cents on something that legitimately improves my quality of life.

I would not say that buying a pack of 50 colored pencils was the best decision of my life. I’ve made some good choices. Asking my wife to marry me. Having two children. Getting my two dogs. Starting this website and podcast and getting into the “Weird Al” Yankovic business for good. Those were all good choices but getting that big ass pack of pencils was an excellent decision as well.

So here is my advice to you, dear reader. Go ahead and buy the big old pack of colored pencils. You deserve it! You’re worth it! You deserve nice things. Be kind to yourself.

I’m talking literally as well as metaphorically. If you buy The Weird A-Coloring to Al: Cynical Movie Cash-In Extended Edition—and you DEFINITELY should—go ahead and buy a big-ass pack of colored pencils to go with it. You’ll have more fun and freedom and your book will look better when you’re finished.

But you should also go ahead and get that massage. Or go see that artist you love even thought you can’t entirely afford it. I’m not telling you to waste money and wrack up huge credit card bills.

But if there’s something modest in your life that would make it better, like buying a huge case of colored pencils to color in The Weird A-Coloring to Al: Cynical Movie Cash-In Extended Edition, then go for it! I did, and I am happier for it.

Buy The Weird A-Coloring to Al: Cynical Movie Cash-In Extended Edition at https://www.nathanrabin.com/shop, signed, for just 12 dollars, shipping and handling included OR twenty seven dollars for three signed copies AND a free pack of colored pencils, shipping and taxes included

Pre-order The Fractured Mirror, the Happy Place’s next book, a 600 page magnum opus about American films about American films, illustrated by the great Felipe Sobreiro over at https://the-fractured-mirror.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

The Joy of Trash, the Happy Place’s first non-"Weird Al” Yankovic-themed book is out! And it’s only 16.50, shipping, handling and taxes included, 30 bucks for two books, domestic only!

Buy The Joy of Trash, The Weird Accordion to Al and the The Weird Accordion to Al in both paperback and hardcover and The Weird A-Coloring to Al and The Weird A-Coloring to Al: Colored-In Special Edition signed from me personally (recommended) over at https://www.nathanrabin.com/shop

Or you can buy The Joy of Trash here and The Weird A-Coloring to Al here and The Weird Accordion to Al here

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