The Mask of ~*Mark Leslie*~

Mark says: I'd like to offer the mask I wore today to work (yes I dress up every year at work whether or not everyone else participates or not -- fortunately, this year, many people participated)
My costume was "Chain Bookstore Zombie" and the "mask" I wore, the paint on my face and the uniform I wore represented the Mark of the past 14 years, the Mark who was a chain bookstore zombie. I'm partially poking fun at myself ( particularly since I now work for an independent bookstore and that's what independents do, isn't it? Make fun of the chain stores) But in many ways, the mask shows the scars and bruises of the past 14 years, the darkened eyes from lack of sleep pulling over-night shifts. No, these are just typical retail bruises and things I'll continue to bear in my new role. I'll always cherish my years with Coles, Chapters and Indigo, and I had the pleasure of working with a ton of fabulous people.

I could go on and talk about the other masks I wear -- the mask of horror writer, the mask of father, the mask of husband, the mask of boss. But maybe that'll be at Lil Bit's next party...