What would 11 feet of snow spend $10,000 on?
February 13th, 2007 | by Thacher ClevelandI had to check in with my folks in Sackets to make sure they weren’t entombed in icy death crystals, and thankfully they are okay. Oswego is the place that got the most snow, and my Dad even said people are driving out there to see the 11 feet of snow. Yes, let’s make a trip there, it sounds like a great place to die in an icy wreck.
Finally getting past the cold. I took some apparently unnecessary DayQuill on Monday and spent most of the day in a semi-drunk fog. Not cool. Aside from a constant stream of snot out of my right nostril, I seem to be on the mend.
We got our giant piles of snow late last night, and we’re slowly making our way through them. I’m hoping it clears up soon, as we’re going down to Portsmouth on Sunday, meeting with a wedding planner-esque person, and I’ll finally get a chance to see where the wedding and reception are actually happening. I’ve seen pictures, but I’m eager to be able to picture it for real.
We got free passes to Ghost Rider at work for Thursday night, and I’d like to go, even though Kenzie is on the fence. We may get a whole group from the store to go, and frankly, they need guys like us to see it. Every time there’s a big comic movie like this, we get asked about it a dozen times a day. They need the nerd vote.
I’m realizing that I’m a bad nerd because I’m just now getting around to reading the complete “Bone” series, which Chris tried for years to get me to read but I just never did. It’s really, really good, and while I’m sorry I hadn’t read it before, I’m glad that I’ve finally gotten around to it.
Damn you winter, with your snow and your colds
February 10th, 2007 | by Thacher ClevelandSo the Tuesday night Dark Tower release party went okay, but it was really hamstrung by the fact that it snowed like the bejesus that day, and apparently the had one of those snow emergency things where they tell people it’s illegal to drive. Why make it illegal to go out in the middle of the night and buy comics? Because they’re snow worshiping fascists, that’s why. Al.l the suddenly crippling cold temperatures and late nights caught up with me on Wednesday night, and I ended up staying home from work on Thursday. I still feel semi-lousy but not completely wore down.
The realtor for the house we looked at keeps calling and asking if we’re still interested. I kinda don’t want to say no, as he has another person he can hook us up with to get financing. I mean, if there was a way we could get no money down and a non-crippling rate…I’m thinking every thing’s good. Kenzie is a little more skeptical, which is wise, seeing as how two people we know have had heating bills of $600 and $900 a month in their houses. That seems ridiculously high, but the place that we’re looking at has a new furnace, I believe new-er siding, but only a couple of non-single pane windows. I think that would be our biggest downfall there.
I had crazy dreams last night, although I had another “story dream,” which who knows, maybe I’ll try cranking out. Like I don’t have enough things that I’m going “Oh, hey, I should write that.” My 12-page script is almost done, but the Corner has been languishing. I also need to get another query out, both on Shadow of the Past and this one story I finished.
C’mon body. Heal, damn you, heal!
For those of you keeping score at home, I like saying “for those of you keeping score at home.”
February 1st, 2007 | by Thacher ClevelandI can tell it’s winter, not just because of the snow outside and the gloves on my hands (not now, outside), but because my legs have become some kind of scaly monsters from greek mythology. I remember my first winter here in Yellow Springs, where the change in winter severity, coupled with the hard water, left me scratching my own legs until both they and my fingernails bled, like I was some kind of guy buried alive and had to dig his way out…with his legs.
I missed out on most of January, but I have managed to hopefully re-secure the services of an artist to do a little 12-page script for a graphic novel I’ve been toying with. One of those ideas that’s been bouncing around, and was in my forebrain (heh, more like a FIVE-brain!) when Mike came back into the store after being away for a while. He’s eager to get something drawn, so I’m trying to pull this thing out quickly so he can get started. Maybe, maybe, we’ll get something down and done in time for the local small press expo in Columbus in April. I dunno. We’ll see.
Not buying a house. Too little money, too little credit score for no money down. It’s a shame because if not for a lack of 3 grand or so, there was a sweet little house in Springfield that made us smile. I dunno, Kenzie’s not entirely sure it’s the right time financially for us, but then again even at 8% interest on 30 years, our monthly on this place would only be about $400 or so, which is a hundred less than the apartment we’re in. Which kinda makes me hate the Springs a little. I know we all joke about how ghetto Springfield, but this was a nice little neighborhood. C’est la vie.
Another non-response rejection from an agent, so I’m moving on at a good clip. I also got a r-slip for a I story I had submitted to a magazine a little while ago too. The rejections don’t get me down that much, but I wish I could go through the process quicker. Like, instead of waiting two or three months, I could get a thumbs up/thumbs down in a couple of weeks, and that’d be great, Bob’s your uncle. I do hate how my brain is back on the comics cycle again, seeing as how putting an ad on Digital Webbing netted me nothing, just a little embarrassment after getting rejected by an artist that had responded with interest initially. Kind of like going out to a blind date, having a good phone conversation with them, but when you meet in person, having them look you over and go, “Oh, no.”
Not so good.
Again, I’m out of good music. I went on a spree a little while ago, getting some old school hip-hop (Afika Bambatta, Grandmaster Flash) and some new stuff (Lily Allen, the Shins, Arctic Monkeys, TV on the Radio) and even classics (Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen) and jazz (Miles David, John Coltrane). Still, I need more. And there’s only so much mc chris out there. My new dream, getting mc to do a show *in* Dark Star. Clear out the balcony area, have him (or anyone, really) perform up there. Granted, I don’t think the shelves would take crowds of people, but then again…
Well, I can dream, can’t I? For those of you keeping score at home, it’s what I like to do best.







