Second Year in Paradise

One day last summer while walking down our street with our dog Abel, I passed a guy working on his truck. Everybody has a truck. It's like it's expected. If you really got it going on you've got a monster truck with big fat tires. When I greeted him with a "how ya doin'" he replied, "Another day in paradise."

Two years ago today we left Chicago. Having only 5 weeks to pack, ship and mostly give away all of our worldly possessions, we set out for Olympia Washington at around 4pm. That was a mistake that could have ended tragically. It took way longer to load the van and clean the house than we expected, so there was no way we could have gotten to Sioux Falls South Dakota by any decent hour. We should have adjusted our plan and stopped at a hotel somewhere in between and cancelled the previous reservations. Instead we tried to power through it while running on fumes.

I'm not a follower of any organized religion but I do believe that we have angels that watch over us. That was the only way we didn't wind up wrecked on the side of some foggy deserted road in South Dakota.

Now, two years later, Odie, Lily and Herbie are all angel dogs. Thankfully all the cats are still here.
We have 3 beagles, Abel, Izzy & Daisy that were all rescued from pharmaceutical lab testing by The Kindness Ranch in Wyoming. Janet & I have gone through some health challenges. Everyday we feel thankful and blessed when we wake up in this libertarian paradise with it's monster trucks, weed stores and drive thru coffee shops with ladies in their underwear making espressos and say, another day in paradise.

Olympia Comics Festival 2018

This past Saturday The Olympia Comics Festival was held in beautiful downtown Olympia Washington. I was fortunate enough to be among the comic creators featured at the event. This was my second year setting up there and it has become the only comic show that I do as a creator. I plan on going to Emerald City at some point but only as a fan.

This year, I had no expectations. I don't have a new book (I'm working on a mini comic about one of the minor characters in Ninja Bunny Assassin and his story, but it's not finished) so I was a bit anxious about doing the show.

I loaded everything in the van Thursday night and decided Friday would be a day that I'd use to just chill and draw a bit and try to prepare mentally. Got there a little less than an hour before doors opened. Set up was easy since I was going for a low key approach. only a hand full of pins made the cut since this show is all about the comics.

I was both freezing and sweating at the same time but still having a blast. 

Once people began to arrive, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I've done many shows & cons in the past but I still get nervous every time. Like a stage performer before the play or a ballplayer before the big game.

By the time it was over, I had experienced possibly the most enjoyable time I've ever had behind a table selling my comics. Not only were my sales double what they were last year, but I met some of the nicest people.

Frank and Casey of Danger Room Comics put together this festival which is the longest running  indie comics event in the Pacific Northwest. Since 2001 they have been bringing together some of the best talent in the medium which includes a guest of honor list that reads like a who's who in Indie comics. This year Farel Dalrymple and Shannon Wheeler did the honors.

There's a feeling you have after a comic show where you feel energized and inspired. Like yeah that was so cool being around like minded people. I'm rockin' that feeling now.