216690 Curiosities served
Apologies...
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Basically, it goes like this:
I haven't felt at all like journaling for the past two or three weeks. The fact is, I've really been enjoying my vacation -- so much to the point that I simply haven't wanted to spend any of it in front of the computer.
There's been a lot going on here in Blacksburg (and beyond). Steffi and I continue to settle into the house and its environs, enjoying the town, the weather (a good 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the South -- on average), and the locals. Additionally, we've had a lot of folks grace us with visits over the past month and expect more soon.
A couple weeks after my sister, her husband, and their kids came for a weekend, we entertained a college buddy of mine and two friends (and colleagues) from my last place of work. The following Monday after their departure, my parents drove up, carrying my entire comic book collection in tow. All of those folks were great fun to be with, and it was sad to see them all leave. The house always seems so empty and lifeless after company gets on the road again.
(A quick aside about tubing on the New River: One of those colleagues wrote me an email mentioning how the "water sports were the least fun thing about his visit, and how he knew it would pale in comparison to simply hanging out with his friends." I sort of see what he was saying, but the fact is -- and despite our storm-shortened outing on the river -- the experience was still incredible. Relaxing on lazy waters with friends, watching the high (and green!) Virginia hills pass by slowly on either side of a majestically wide New River? Come on, even if you only get to tube the one-mile stretch once you've truly witnessed something gorgeous.)
Okay, on to the apologies (in no particular order)-- and if you think you deserve one and I've neglected you, let me know in the comments section and I'll do my best to remedy any hurt feelings. (At best, I've scanned some journal entries of late, so I'm not truly up on whichever remaining friends I might still have.)
Mom & Dad:
It was great seeing you guys, and I'll take back everything I said about not wanting to fill up my basement with my childhood junk. I've had a great time going through all the "treasures of youth" and am still amazed by the sheer volume of comics I once managed to purchase with (generally speaking) my own money and still own today. When asked, I would often give modest estimates of around 1200 books to quantify the collection. However, after doing a rough count this past weekend, it looks as if I have well over 2000 plastic-bagged and cardstock-boarded "funnies."
(Nice suprises to find that Todd McFarlane's Amazing Spiderman #300 is valued at well over $150, that the first appearance of Elektra in Daredevil #68 could net me $75, and that my earliest issue of DD, number 7 -- despite its over 40 years of age -- probably would fall 50 to 100 dollars shy of the aforementioned Spiderman book if sold. Discovering the one "half-box" dedicated to a complete 75-issue run of Neil Gaiman's Sandman was also a thrill.)
Thanks, you guys. Now I know I'm a true geek.
Stephanie:
I doubt you'll even read this, but in the event you are, we got the gift and love it. An astute assessment of what we still needed for the house!
Dan S.:
While I owe you no real apology, you are deserving of a long email. In the works soon...?
Andreas & Luna:
Absolutely amazing what a hummingbird feeder and a pound of birdseed can do to the backyard, isn't it? The tree-framed environs behind our home has recently become a veritable ornithological paradise...and warzone. Our potted herb garden has done surprisingly well adjusting to the slightly cooler climate here in Blacksburg, and we're hoping to take some cuttings from the existing plants (rosemary and thyme, in particular) to plant in the ground and fill out portions of our yard.
Anyway, I hope you guys are well, as are your jobs, and that you're both still writing!
Jason L. (and Janet, too.):
While I've offered congratulations for your recent publication in the last issue of TTA, I haven't really kept as much track of your successes and movements of late. Glad to hear that you and Janet have found a new place and that you're both continuing to be creatively productive. I enjoyed seeing "One Big Cruch" up at Opi8.com with my accompanying illustration. Congrats on that, as well.
Also, I've been trying my darndest to get a copy of "your issue" of The Third Alternative, but no bookstore carries individual issues of the magazine -- nor can those stores I've visited order single copies. Any ideas how I can get just that one issue so I can read "Reality Interrupted?"
Mike J.:
I've been meaning to congratulate you on your book sale (and the opportunity to vacation a bit)for quite some time. I was really pleased to see your announcement over on your blog! Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Oh, and if you're looking for a cover artist...Helloes to Lizzie and Drew!
Suzanne & Paula:
I feel bad about the protacted lack of contact and have been missing the occasional IM chat sessions. Also, I hope that shower didn't leave any permanent water damage in your living room. (If so, may your DSL remain constantly -- and quickly -- flowing.)
Alex Wilson:
Thanks so much for meeting up with me and Steffi on our next-to-last-day in Chapel Hill. The whole unfortunate "accident-in-the-WSM-parking-lot" ordeal got squared away nicely. (The cop discovered the 17-year old hoodlum's not-so-secret identity pretty quickly, and his parents have already paid up. Never got an apology from their son directly, however.) In any event, it was great to see you, and I hope Jen is doing well.
Andrew N.:
Your blog is looking even more sparsely populated than mine! Ain't long summers and home-ownership grand?
Maggie:
Hope the new little-one is doing well and that you're getting those hard-to-find books through interlibrary loan or Amazon. A good, productive and fun summer to you!
Jay H.:
No, sorry, I really DID NOT shave the cat.
Well, that's about all the "pologizing" I can do for one day, and I hope I didn't leave anyone out. Again, if you feel neglected or just want an apology, I'll do my very best to at least come up with something mildly entertaining...
I haven't felt at all like journaling for the past two or three weeks. The fact is, I've really been enjoying my vacation -- so much to the point that I simply haven't wanted to spend any of it in front of the computer.
There's been a lot going on here in Blacksburg (and beyond). Steffi and I continue to settle into the house and its environs, enjoying the town, the weather (a good 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the South -- on average), and the locals. Additionally, we've had a lot of folks grace us with visits over the past month and expect more soon.
A couple weeks after my sister, her husband, and their kids came for a weekend, we entertained a college buddy of mine and two friends (and colleagues) from my last place of work. The following Monday after their departure, my parents drove up, carrying my entire comic book collection in tow. All of those folks were great fun to be with, and it was sad to see them all leave. The house always seems so empty and lifeless after company gets on the road again.
(A quick aside about tubing on the New River: One of those colleagues wrote me an email mentioning how the "water sports were the least fun thing about his visit, and how he knew it would pale in comparison to simply hanging out with his friends." I sort of see what he was saying, but the fact is -- and despite our storm-shortened outing on the river -- the experience was still incredible. Relaxing on lazy waters with friends, watching the high (and green!) Virginia hills pass by slowly on either side of a majestically wide New River? Come on, even if you only get to tube the one-mile stretch once you've truly witnessed something gorgeous.)
Okay, on to the apologies (in no particular order)-- and if you think you deserve one and I've neglected you, let me know in the comments section and I'll do my best to remedy any hurt feelings. (At best, I've scanned some journal entries of late, so I'm not truly up on whichever remaining friends I might still have.)
Mom & Dad:
It was great seeing you guys, and I'll take back everything I said about not wanting to fill up my basement with my childhood junk. I've had a great time going through all the "treasures of youth" and am still amazed by the sheer volume of comics I once managed to purchase with (generally speaking) my own money and still own today. When asked, I would often give modest estimates of around 1200 books to quantify the collection. However, after doing a rough count this past weekend, it looks as if I have well over 2000 plastic-bagged and cardstock-boarded "funnies."
(Nice suprises to find that Todd McFarlane's Amazing Spiderman #300 is valued at well over $150, that the first appearance of Elektra in Daredevil #68 could net me $75, and that my earliest issue of DD, number 7 -- despite its over 40 years of age -- probably would fall 50 to 100 dollars shy of the aforementioned Spiderman book if sold. Discovering the one "half-box" dedicated to a complete 75-issue run of Neil Gaiman's Sandman was also a thrill.)
Thanks, you guys. Now I know I'm a true geek.
Stephanie:
I doubt you'll even read this, but in the event you are, we got the gift and love it. An astute assessment of what we still needed for the house!
Dan S.:
While I owe you no real apology, you are deserving of a long email. In the works soon...?
Andreas & Luna:
Absolutely amazing what a hummingbird feeder and a pound of birdseed can do to the backyard, isn't it? The tree-framed environs behind our home has recently become a veritable ornithological paradise...and warzone. Our potted herb garden has done surprisingly well adjusting to the slightly cooler climate here in Blacksburg, and we're hoping to take some cuttings from the existing plants (rosemary and thyme, in particular) to plant in the ground and fill out portions of our yard.
Anyway, I hope you guys are well, as are your jobs, and that you're both still writing!
Jason L. (and Janet, too.):
While I've offered congratulations for your recent publication in the last issue of TTA, I haven't really kept as much track of your successes and movements of late. Glad to hear that you and Janet have found a new place and that you're both continuing to be creatively productive. I enjoyed seeing "One Big Cruch" up at Opi8.com with my accompanying illustration. Congrats on that, as well.
Also, I've been trying my darndest to get a copy of "your issue" of The Third Alternative, but no bookstore carries individual issues of the magazine -- nor can those stores I've visited order single copies. Any ideas how I can get just that one issue so I can read "Reality Interrupted?"
Mike J.:
I've been meaning to congratulate you on your book sale (and the opportunity to vacation a bit)for quite some time. I was really pleased to see your announcement over on your blog! Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Oh, and if you're looking for a cover artist...Helloes to Lizzie and Drew!
Suzanne & Paula:
I feel bad about the protacted lack of contact and have been missing the occasional IM chat sessions. Also, I hope that shower didn't leave any permanent water damage in your living room. (If so, may your DSL remain constantly -- and quickly -- flowing.)
Alex Wilson:
Thanks so much for meeting up with me and Steffi on our next-to-last-day in Chapel Hill. The whole unfortunate "accident-in-the-WSM-parking-lot" ordeal got squared away nicely. (The cop discovered the 17-year old hoodlum's not-so-secret identity pretty quickly, and his parents have already paid up. Never got an apology from their son directly, however.) In any event, it was great to see you, and I hope Jen is doing well.
Andrew N.:
Your blog is looking even more sparsely populated than mine! Ain't long summers and home-ownership grand?
Maggie:
Hope the new little-one is doing well and that you're getting those hard-to-find books through interlibrary loan or Amazon. A good, productive and fun summer to you!
Jay H.:
No, sorry, I really DID NOT shave the cat.
Well, that's about all the "pologizing" I can do for one day, and I hope I didn't leave anyone out. Again, if you feel neglected or just want an apology, I'll do my very best to at least come up with something mildly entertaining...
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