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Tuesday, August 31, 2004
"What?!?" He practically screamed into the cell phone. It was hard to drive as fast as he was driving, swerving in and out of the traffic on the two lanes of Cannesbury Avenue, and talk into the intruding device. On the other end of the line one of Martin's friends was talking about how Martin was supposed to come over this weekend and could he bring back that book.
"I'll have to call you back. Someone is trying to kill me."
Martin ditched the phone onto the floor of the passenger side. He kept shifting his view from the road in front of him cluttered with slower cars to his rear view mirror.
The dark Continental was always behind him. As soon as he changed lanes it would come out from behind a car in the second lane and fall into its place right behind him.
He knew that he was going to have to try something more drastic than fancy driving to lose these guys. Even as all this was going on through his head, somewhere in the background of his consciousness his mind registered the fact that his favorite Steely Dan song was coming out of the car's dash.
"How come they never play this anymore?" passed along the cresting wave of his thoughts as he negotiated the left turn onto Ashlim Street at fifty MPH.
Immediately, almost so as to appear as one seamless left turn he cut down the alley behind the old Studard's pharmacy. He knew that the alley would end up right behind the New Golden Palace. With luck he could hide the car in that parking lot off to the side and duck into the restaurant.
He had friends at that restaurant. But he was still wondering how hard it would be to convince Tommy Wu to allow him to stash a gun there.
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Thursday, August 26, 2004
I can't stand broadcast television. There is absolutely nothing worse than
predictable television
manipulative music, automatic applause, digital guffaws (which I like to call digifaws), impossible plots, dubious dialogue. Nothing stimulated my brain less. I take that back. I misstated myself. Such drivel actually does stimulate one portion of my brain; the angertia oblongata. It makes me furious with anger.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2004
GREEN MACHINE
When I was young I was convinced that I would wear jeans everyday and ride a green machine to my job at the tree house. I would put my brown paper sack lunch behind the seat and pedal like mad so that I could yank on that lever and spin out in the parking lot and come to a stop nestled right in my parking space while throwing a cloud of rocks and dust into the air. If anybody said anything to me I would laugh at them and point out the fact that they have to wear a necktie to work.
I am sure with modern technology we could engineer a big bigwheel. Big enough for a fully grown man. Made of some sort of tough nylon or plastic.
Are you telling me that you wouldn't want to grind down the sidewalk in a bigwheel that stands four feet high? As old ladies and housecats leap for safety as you careen by?
Next time remind me to tell you about how I still intend to live in the G.I. Joe Headquarters playset.
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Saturday, August 21, 2004
If anybody is interested in seeing a preview of some of my work go to Dernwerks and check out Expert's. I didn't ink this but did pencil it. Yay me!
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Thursday, August 19, 2004
SHOULD WE OR SHOULDN'T WE?
Somebody asked me the other day (it doesn't matter who) if I thought we should be spending tax dollars on space exploration or on people here on earth. I almost imediately answered that we should definitely be exploring space. Then came the haymaker question: why?
I couldn't actually give a conclusive answer. I simply knew that we have to go to space. I then began to question my position. Why do we have to go to space? More than just channeling my inner Sir Edmund Hillary I actually couldn't tell you why I feel this way. And a rather strong feeling it is. Not just a flighty "yeah that sounds o.k." Perhaps not as strong a feeling as some members of those astronomical (astronautical?) societies that build Devil's Peak out of mashed potatoes (I prefer stovetop stuffing myself) but a vigorous feeling still. But why indeed?
I am sure I could name a dozen charities right now that would put a billion dollars to excellent use immediately, but I would still opt for space exploration.
Is it because man has a biological need to dominate his evironment and space is the inevitable extension of that? Some form of wanderlust built into our genetic code? Is it simply because "it is there"? Our hope/fear/desire to discover our place in the order of the universe?
I would still opt for space exploration.
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Monday, August 09, 2004
OK IT IS OFFICIAL
if there is anything worse than facial piercings....
 
it is off-centered facial piercings!!
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Friday, August 06, 2004
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Monday, August 02, 2004
This is my first time at the San Diego Comic Convention. Robert has taken me to smaller ones like the one in Las Vegas and Long Beach which in no way compares to what I saw in San Diego. So this review will totally be from the female perspective and also from the perspective of someone who never read comics until a year ago. So if you are looking for a review of the vendors and merchandise at this convention then you need to stop right here and not read any further because you won't find any of that in this review. What I will talk about is what I found interesting at this place. The reason I went is to support Robert in his career. Just like the political wife that goes out with her husband as he campaigns for the election. I went to help Robert campaign to further his career in the comic book industry. Which I feel very strongly about and will help him in anyway possible because this is not only his career but it is his life and I believe in him with all my heart. Okay enough of that mushy stuff, on with the review.
If you like to watch people (which I do), if you like to do a lot of walking (which I thought I did) and if you like to be attached to your boyfriend by the hip (which I love) then this is the place to be. I got to do all of this in spades. I did it so much I don't think I need to do it again for another year. Except for being attached to my boyfriend's hip, I've had my fill. I swear this convention center is a mile long and I feel like I walked every inch of it. This is my summary of each day. The first day I remember really well, the second day is a little blurry and the third day I had to recuperate. Thankfully, Robert is very understanding in my wanting to lounge in bed while he finishes his business at the convention center on Sunday.
Friday we get in line and wait for the bus to take us to the convention center. Of course, there are already good "people watching" activities going on in line. The fun has already started. We arrive at the convention center and there right in front of me are a huge group of Klingons! There were at least 10 of them and they were HUGE. I didn't know Klingons were as wide as they are tall. Of course, Captain Jean Luc Picard (I thought he was a white guy) was there and he was the complete opposite of the Klingons, he was of the African American descent and tall and skinny. I was trying to figure out if this was done intentionally or not. When I first looked at this group I was in awe that they really looked like Klingons and then the closer we got I realized they had plastic hats on with hair coming out of it. Of course the plastic had the Klingon forehead on it. I was so disappointed. But the people watching activity continued. When we finally got into the convention center I was instantly overwhelmed by the enormity of the building and how every inch of it is used for some sort of display. How is it that I never knew anything about comics before and why wasn't I inundated with this information? It seems to be a cult that I wasn't aware of, for there to be so much merchandise for this stuff. To say the least I was very impressed.
So Robert takes off on a run so that I have to hang on to his belt loop so that I wouldn't get lost because I was afraid. I was very afraid. Some of the people there were not the usual people that I associate with or see on a daily basis (I think). These were the people "who live under the stairs". Of course they made the best and most fun "people watching" activity. So luckily the artists that Robert needed to visit with were not of this sort. It seems the artists (like Robert) are the normal people and the fan base that these artist cater to seem to be the people "who live under the stairs". I could envision them having to live in a dark room making their costumes and practicing their poses so that on this very weekend they can come out and play the part of their favorite comic book hero and they're very proud of themselves (which is good, I think). The artists Robert visited I had seen at other shows so I knew some of them and felt comfortable just hanging around while they talked. Of course my brain did not stop processing the images that I was seeing. I felt like I was looking at a kaleidoscope of people in every shape, size, color, form, fit and function.
Saturday - OH MY GOD!! They multiplied a hundred fold. Do I really need to say more?! And I don't think they bathe. Although we did get to see a cool Batman and Borg and of course Robert took a picture of that. That was cool!
Sunday - CAN'T MOVE - TOO TIRED - MUST STAY IN BED!!!!!!!
So all in all I had a great time. Of course Robert treated me to great meals for my perseverance in this activity, which I'm sure I will do again next year. I have to say the highlight of the convention was meeting "Sponge Bob Square Pants" in person. I couldn't believe it, I was so excited and Robert took a picture of us together.
How cool is that?!
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THAT TIME AGAIN
Yep, it was San Diego Con again. If they keep expanding like they have been every year, pretty soon one end of the convention hall will be in Tijuana. Which would suit a lot of the artists in artist alley just fine. Not to mention the mad Brits. I must emphasize just how mind boggling this show has become. It's astronomical!
  
What, no Borg? Oh, we got Borg.
FRIDAY
Sally and I got to the hotel relatively early but were actually able to check in. Good. Got to the convention center and picked up badges easily, except for the person in front of us with the cloud of B.O. Dude! What, did you jog to the show? Again with the Klingons*
*see my girlfriend's blog entry to follow
Got into the show fine and headed to artist alley to look for old acquaintances. Some of the people I was hoping to see again were not in attendance this year.
However alumnus and music guru Mick gray was in fine form. Even trying to send some work my way.
My buddy Jeff Parker was hawking Interman and sundries. Be sure to look for a piece he did for the upcoming Spider-Man II dvd package soon. Despite the fact that he was nominated for an Eisner for talent deserving wider recognition he retained his everyday inflated ego and indifference for others. Ya gotta respect that. One thing I have noticed about all the photos I have of Parker over the years is that he always looks as if he is smelling something. And he is not sure if he likes it or not. Look for yourself.
  
 
Steve Lieber was afraid that my small metal box was about to steal his soul. Lieber is one of those guys who you realize after talking to him just once, that despite working in comics, he is a good human being.
Chuck Wojtkiewicz is possibly one of the most unflappable persons in comics I've met. So down to earth you are convinced he hasn't realized that he has wandered into a comic convention yet.
I also had the happy opportunity to actually run into Jim Shooter (see blog entry to follow). A true gentleman.
Had a business lunch with the writer of a book I worked on last year which was shelved but should be resuscitated and out sometime next year. Tried to make it from one end of the showroom floor to the other and didn't make it.
Oh yeah, the Joker was there with Nightcrawler
SATURDAY
Krikey! Here we can actually see the evolution of a Spider-Man
Did you ever notice how you never see Mexican wrestling legend, Santos and Rafael Navarro at a party together? Makes you think, doesn't it? Tried to walk from one end to the other of the show again and almost made it this time but had to break for lunch. Saw remainder after repast. Spent much of the time either trying to conduct business or fraternizing with people I only see once a year. Such as;
Check out David Hedgecock's Ape Entertainment.
Strangely enough Larry Elmore's first cousin was one of my art teachers growing up.
All around good guy Richard Haselrig
Plus there were pirates
and idiots in armor trying to hurt each other on the mezzanine.
SUNDAY
Sally actually decided to sleep in. While I traipsed back over to the show and wrapped up any business left unfinished and or said goodbye until next year to everyone I know who was there and not still hungover from the previous night.
Hotshot cartoonist Angel Medina
Plus lots of things,
robot cavemen,
and star wars families. Sheesh!
Oh yeah and some eight foot amazons with blue hair. Well, duh!
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