Gift Card Bonanza 2

Yesterday I went to That's Entertainment to use the $40 gift certificate my parents got me for Christmas. I had a list of offbeat titles I wanted to try, but after searching the shelves for awhile, I didn't find any of them. I think the store has been cleaned out over the last week, because I know some of them were there on my last visit. And while they did have a copy of "Flight" #5, I want to read that anthology series in order, and I certainly don't want to pay full price when I can get that $27 book for $14 on Amazon.

So I used the certificate to get the bulk of my monthly pull list."Conan the Cimmerian" from Dark Horse and "DV8: Gods and Monsters" both ended with the issues I picked up. I am sad to see Conan go, but DV8 ended rather flat. We will see how the miniseries stands up to a run-through read of all 8 issues. The 3 issues of  Marvel's "Secret Warriors" were good (as usual), but the 3 issues of "Secret Avengers" were not. I am nearly done with Marvel, and have been slowly slipping away for the last half-decade as they have spread out and thinned out their Avengers and X-Men franchises beyond my caring. "SW" and "New Mutants" are the only ones I care about at this point.

I also got the latest issues (#19-20) of "Unwritten" from Vertigo. The story moved along nicely, with a few surprises mixed in. The "Moby Dick" angle is pretty cool too, and I look forward to seeing how the tale unfolds. DC's "Legion of Superheroes" #8 showed the new leader election results (Mon-El, which is lame, I wanted Phantom Girl to win) and more progress in the Durlan assassins plot. Any new Legion story by Paul Levitz is a welcome thing, and this month there was a lot going on. And finally, "Zatanna" #8 breezed by, but it's a good book, and I've always loved her ever since her early days with the JLA back in the 70's and 80's.

Overall, I am grateful for the gift, but underwhelmed by what I brought home. I am all about a great story with decent art, and most of the comics this time around failed. I've been more particular with my comics dollars over the last couple of years, and that trend is going to be ramped up going forward. There is too much uninspired filler out there lately...

Gift Card Bonanza 1

I used the $25 gift card for Barnes & Noble that I received for Christmas from Dad & Ma today. After an aborted attempt last night, I applied it to two books:

• Flight, Volume 3 and
• The Great Hurricane: 1938

It will be nice to receive something interesting in the mail, and Flight, Volume 1 was fantastic.

Resolutions 2011 - Part One

I am looking forward to 2011 and all of the new happenings and opportunities it will bring. I have contained in my head many things I'd like to get done in the year to come, and I will go into greater detail around the first of the year, but for now, be content in knowing that I am giving a great deal of thought to a variety of goals both realistic and interesting.

The Haul

Do my parents know me or what?

I spent a great evening with my parents, Kevin, Sarah and their families last night. It sucks that Jason is still in California, but that's life. I arrived at the family estate just before 6 pm, and we all had a big dinner, with a choice of roast beef, turkey, various vegetables & salad, a few types of bread, and gravy for both meats. I had turkey, stuffing, gravy and buttered Italian bread. Coffee and a few cookies for dessert, and then it was gift time!

The kids all loved what I got them, and the adults were appreciative of the "Dinner with KJ" coupons. I received the following:

• J & Stacie - A gift card (gc) from Target that came with a small Lego set (the Target dog).
• Sarah & Jon - $25 for JC Penney (winter hat & scarf here I come).
• Kevin & Holly - Two framed vintage menu parts from the Union Oyster House, from 1945. He's had them hanging in his house for years, and I've long admired them. Kevin was going to make me a set, but figured I should have them now, and he could replace them for himself at his leisure. Very cool. Plus they gave me current school photos of the three kids :)
• Dad & Ma - Wow, where do I begin? They still bestow gifts upon us at Christmas as if we four were all still little kids. I received $25 gc's from Barnes & Noble, Michael's and Mobil/Exxon, plus a $40 gc from my local comic shop, That's Entertainment. Also, they got me the first "Flight" compilation, the hardcover graphic novelization of Stephen King's "The Gunslinger Born", and "Starbucked" by Taylor Clark. Ma got me a 6-pack of tube socks (over the calf, of course!), and a 3-pack of black dress socks. I have the "Mad Men" Season 4 dvd collection coming in March (it had to be pre-ordered), and I received the SNL "Saturday TV Funhouse" dvd as a 'placeholder' (funny, Ma!). I usually get some kind of coffee for Christmas, and this year was no different. I got a 2-pound bag of Starbuck's House Blend (whole bean), and a humongous 5-pound bag of Sumatra Mandheling beans from Coffee Bean Direct - SWEET! Plus I received replacement blades for my Norelco razor, and a big jar of M&M's. What can I say besides 'thank you', except 'my parents rock'!

Christmas Eve

I woke up at eight (I have been setting my alarm lately to form a routine even though I am not working, and some mornings I get up way before the alarm even goes off), made coffee, did dishes, and did some Christmas present wrapping while the tv was on. I only have gifts for the my ten nieces & nephews this year. Nothing for my siblings and their spouses, and nothing for my parents, except a promise. I plan on taking each couple out to dinner once I finally find a job suited to my skills and experience (alas, the time for being selective has long passed). Maybe I will win the lottery tonight... But no moping: more on tonight's family Christmas gathering later!

The IN Box

Today when the mailman came, in addition to the latest issues of "Playboy" and "Wired", I received the autographed copy of the French version of the graphic novelization of Richard Stark's "The Hunter" that I won from Darwyn Cooke's artist's blog. In addition to the personalization, Mr. Cooke included a little sketch of Parker! It's the same great story that I already own in hardcover, but it is oversized, and relettered in the French language. Very cool. I immediately went online to thank the owner of the Canadian comic shop (Strange Adventures Comix & Curiosities) who held the autograph signing and subsequent contest.

Waves

Has there ever been a better reason to want to take up surfing than this?

Yesterday

Yesterday (Monday) was a good day. I spent the morning reading the latest issue of "Surfer Magazine" and drawing (surfers, go figure) while I finished watching "Raiders of the Lost Ark". I did my usual fruitless job search online as I played games, read on Wikipedia for awhile and entered a few random contests. It was ESPN sports television ("ATH" & "PTI") while I read the latest "Rolling Stone" beginning at 5 pm. I worked out from 7 - 9 pm, and then took a quick shower, before stretching my last $60 at Hannaford (I had coupons for $5 off $50, and free cat litter - score!). I watched the Ravens/Texans game (I beat my brother Kevin in the first consolation round in our fantasy football league - thanks Andre Johnson!) and the beginning of "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom" (the worst of the franchise by far - Kate Capshaw, you cannot act!), and then fell asleep around 1 am while reading old issues of "Terminal City".

It Does A Body Good

No, not milk.

I worked out three times this week, and I feel great. I am doing everything I can to keep busy in this bleakest of times during my ongoing unemployment, and nothing is better for keeping spirits up (and feeling like time was well-spent) than the endorphin rush (and calorie burn) of strenuous exercise.

Eardrums Pop

I got an e-mail from Insect Guide letting me know about their new free music release coming up on 12/20. When I went to the Eardrums Pop website to look around, I found a few other cool freebies, and immediately snagged them for my iPod.

First I came across Baffin Island, a band led by Melanie Whittle of The Hermit Crabs, and including members of The Very Most. Their sound reminds me of the music I listened to a lot back in the mid-90's when I lived in Boston (Roslindale), bands like Velocity Girl and Jale. Their 3-song offering is cute and upbeat, and will be perfect for upcoming dreary winter days.

Then I opted for the 4-song EP by Sometimes Always. The music reminds me of My Bloody Valentine mixed with R.E.M., when both bands were first starting to form their signature sounds. It's a cool blend, and rather surprising that the band is just one dude from Indonesia. And since my iPod is generally dominated by female singers, it's always cool to find music with a decent male voice.

Next up was Tiny Fireflies. It was the first music that caught my eye (and ear) on the site, but I tried to download it twice to no avail. Luckily there was another download option, and it finally worked out fine. Kristine's ethereal voice is right in the bulls eye of my personal taste. These songs will fit seamlessly into a mix of Ivy, Olive, Mazzy Star, and An April March.

And last but not least, three songs by the aforementioned Insect Guide. And amazingly, track 2 features Graeme Naysmith of one of my all-time favorite bands, Pale Saints, on guitar! They do a great job with their e-mails of keeping me up to date on great new music in the genres I am partial to, as well as giving me "blog fuel" for my music journal, Not Lame Minus.

So if you happen to be reading this, and want some cool music, click the link of each band above, and be swept away to each artist's page for some free audio magic...

Inexpensive Fun

If I'd had any disposable income, there are several places I'd have rather been tonight:

• At the Kendall Square Cinema, seeing Natalie Portman in "Black Swan".
• Down in Pomfret, CT to see Abbie Barrett perform at the Vanilla Bean Cafe.
• ...Or hanging out in Boston with my friends Jay and Gavin (if they had been free).

Alas, I have little cash to spare, so I spent the evening playing games online, and enjoying 3 bottles of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (one of the best out there, in my opinion). For the record, I rarely drink when I am alone, but it is such a great beer, and it's not like I pounded them to get blasted. They made a quiet evening at home better, and since I'd bought them awhile ago, it cost me zero dollars today (haha). I don't mind staying in on a Friday, I just wish I had more options. I really would like to see Abbie Barrett (or "Black Swan") before the year is out...

Face Up - Lights

It's late and I am tired, wish I could spark a smile
The place is flying high but right now I want to be low
Don't want to move an inch, let alone a million miles
And I don't want to go but I know I gotta go

I just want to feel alive

CHORUS
The times you don't want to wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up

Seems like the more you grow, the more time you spend alone
Before you know it you end up perfectly on your own
The city's shining bright, but you don't see the light
How come you concentrate on things that don't make you feel right

I just want to feel alright

CHORUS
The times you don't want to wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up

I'm looking for more than a little bit
I'm gonna have to find my way through it
Gonna leave a mark, I'm gonna set a spark
I'm coming up off the ground, I won't be looking down

CHORUS
The times you don't want to wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up


99% of the time I am not a lyrics guy, but every once in awhile, a song's story resonates. Add Lights' amazing voice, and I am caught in a 'replay' loop that would drive most people nuts. I hate being unemployed...

Other Worlds

I spent the day watching parts of Season Three of "Mad Men" and finishing the book "The Big Oyster". I had cereal for breakfast, scrambled eggs & maple sausage for lunch, and a bowl of buttered popcorn for supper, plus coffee at either end of my day.

Okemo Thanksgiving

I spent the evening of my birthday driving up to Ludlow, VT to spend several days, including the Thanksgiving holiday, with my parents, and my sister & her family. What a fun time.

The drive up was enjoyable, and amazingly traffic-free. I went Route 2 West to 91 North, to VT 103 North, and after a quick drive down 100, I was at the entrance to Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, VT. In order not to get lost, I called my sister, and she came down the hill so I could follow her to the 5-bedroom/4-bath house we were all staying at. Dad & Ma had been there since early afternoon with my sister and 2 of the kids, I arrived at 6 pm sharp, and Jon got there after work around 9 pm. Ma got me a pepperoni, mushroom & anchovy pizza from a local place for supper, and for my birthday gift she & Dad gave me a candle, a 5-pound bag of coffee, and the latest issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. I'd brought my Lego blocks in case the kids needed something to do (they were thrilled), so Georgia, Hayden, Dad & I messed around with them for a few hours. Everyone was in bed by midnight. The moon was full, and there were so many stars in the sky, that I stared out the skylight at Orion (and many other constellations) for a good ten minutes before turning in. Then I read "Time Wants a Skeleton" by Ross Rocklynne until I finished it and fell asleep, while listening to Mojave 3, Nick Drake, and Pale Saints on my iPod.

Day 2: The kids were up at the crack of dawn playing hide & seek, and they burst into my room at 7:30. I finally got out of bed at 8, and had coffee & cold pizza for breakfast. I read Mark Kurlansky's "The Big Oyster" all morning while Sarah made pies and Ma cooked the turkey and other main meal stuff. Then it was the Patriots-Lions game at noon. We had a fantastic dinner, the Patriots and Saints both won their games, I read a big chunk of the book, and we all just took it easy all day, having pie and coffee later, watching tv and the girls perform (sing, dance, etc...) at various times. I was in bed by 11 pm (!), and fell asleep reading more of "TBO", and listening to Slowdive and Telefon Tel Aviv. Another great day.

Day 3: I got up at 8 again, and had coffee and a chocolate chip brownie while reading. Ma made scrambled eggs & bacon for everyone, which was cool, and we all just lounged around all morning. I showered at ten, packed up my car (after scraping last night's ice off of it), was on the road by 11 am, and proceeded to enjoy a leisurely sunny drive home (2 hours door to door), down through the sunny Vermont mountains, and the beautiful western Massachusetts woods. What a great way to start off this new year of my life, out of town with my family!

It's My Birthday

Well, today is my 42nd birthday. And as history has shown (based on the average age of passing in my family, this is most likely the midpoint in my life. My aim this year is to kick off the second half in style.

I have several goals for the coming year, and I will discuss them as I tackle them, but for now, here are a few:

1. Produce the second annual Wyman's Pond Music Fest on Saturday July 30th, 2011.
2. Continue my successful and enjoyable Mountain Quest (7 climbs to date).
3. Learn another language. I have been thinking about either Spanish or French, but now I am leaning more toward Finnish, as it was spoken (if infrequently) by my mother's father's side of the family while I was growing up.
4. Travel to as many of the 50 states as I can in one year.
5. Get paid for my artwork.

I have more ideas and goals, but it is still pretty early today, and I don't want to think too hard (haha).


I got up at 6:30 to feed Sabrino (my cat), dozed for another half-hour, and then had Peet's Sumatra coffee (brought back fresh-ground from California) and an apple fritter I had leftover from Starbucks last night. A cool and (slightly) exotic way to begin my birthday! And did you see the current temperature as I write this? Spooky...