I 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.