back I am writing to announce my retirement from the Diurnals on Bendpress. I think everyone has their own reasons. There has been a lot of speculation in terms of why. I am pretty sure I will get to that point once you guys get the opportunity to ask questions. I want to say thank you to both of the gentleman here, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Bend, for presenting me with the opportunity to be a part of the Diurnals section, and certainly to give me an opportunity to make good friends and be part of a great community. I want to say thanks to both of those gentleman and to all the contributors for allowing me to come here. I will support Bendpress. I think the site itself is a lot bigger than Mark Penxa. I've been given an opportunity by people before me, to name a few, Picasso, Warhol, Tex Avery. These guys doodled way before Mark Penxa was born and Mark Penxa came on the heels of all that activity and what Mr. Jenkins and what he has done for the Internet, gave me an opportunity to doodle. I doodled to the best that I could, I tried to enhance the doodling itself, I've tried to be the best doodler that I could be. Next thing you know, here we are as a "stable". I think the section is going to continue on, although we've had our troubles over the last six months, I think that's a reality check for all of us. That art is a business, yet it is still fun. It is still doodling and the doodling will continue on. Once again, I have had a great time and can't say enough for the people who've supported me and my life will take a change. People say, 'Well Mark Penxa doesn't have any challenges away from the Diurnals.' I dispute that. Being an introvert is very challenging. If you like to sleep you know that and I welcome that challenge. I look forward to it. I will live vicariously through Pommier, Larson and Pendleton if they continue to contribute or if they don't. I will support that. In closing, I feel that I have achieved a great feat in my career, 15 Diurnals. I look forward to being mysterious and I wish you all well. Mark Penxa, June, 2003