Well it has been pointed out that I've been neglecting the old blog, and the truth of the matter is that I have. So with out further ado, I present the update of the blog.
Treasure Island has been keeping me tremendously busy. I mean really, really busy. That's all I can really report right now. That I'm really busy.
But other than work, and let's face it who wants to hear about work?
I was invited to a pre-40th surprise birthday and CD release party last night. The party was for an old friend, Sandra, the CD was her husband's band Wyatt. The birthday festivities were held at Amigo's. and was a really nice time, my buddy Jody showed up, after I inadvertently ran into him at O'Shea's bar the previous night and invited him (as he was Sandra's roommate, I thought no one would object).
On a side note Amigo's has changed their menu somewhat, and added a near perfect item, the Lila Mole Fajitas, my review, OH MY GOD!, plus they serve a really nice new local brew the Bete Noir from Paddockwood Brewery. Now back to the update.
We shifted to a Country bar in the North end for the CD release party. No I can't remember the last time I was in a bar that was cowboy themed... Yes I can-NEVER! The place was done up as a barn, the only thing missing was the cowshit. And then that was provided by the DJ, between the band's sets. Wyatt is a country rock quartet, pretty good for the genre, but the music between sets was atrocious. Speaking of atrocious, when did big hair come back? and more importantly - WHY?
That's all for now, the high seas need ink.
I just this moment got off the phone with an Editor at Marvel. They've offered me a 6 month run on the new classics illustrated comic. Of course I said yes, the chance to get a solid stretch on a single title is enticing enough, but to not have to draw naked guys punching each other is kind of appealing as well.
The book is a little known title by some Scottish writer named Robert Louis Stevenson, and the book is Treasure Island.
That's right I'm working on a book about PIRATES! Arrr!
So to celebrate I'm putting a short film by some animators in France up on the blog, enjoy!
Well, it is that day again, though I don't really feel much like celebrating. What is there to celebrate? I'm not really blue today, it's just that I've had a sense of impending doom - or maybe it is just a feeling of ennui.
The temperature here is 31 below, though with the wind they claim it feels like -43. The weather promises to break in about a week. The sky, however is a luscious blue and as large as you can imagine.The sunrise was absolutely stunning, and if I still had my digital camera I'd have taken and posted some photos, but I don't, I didn't, you'll have to take my word on it. I am lusting after a new digital camera, the Nikon D-80. It is a 10 mega pixel slr that can accommodate the lenses that I already own. By the time I'm ready to purchase it a new one will have replaced it, so is there really any point to its desire?
One of my favourite versions of one of mt favourite songs, listen to it, Willie can really sing.
The Scene of the Crime
The recitation continues.
Okay, just kidding. But you have to admit that the expressions on both their faces are priceless.
Wendy and Ian, not only the best landlord that you could ever have, but good friends as well. Not to forget Annie, nope, there she is.
Louise and Danny (at least I think that that is Danny, all babies look pretty much like small versions of Winston Churchill to me).
Back, by popular demand, Mr Des Gilling.
Suddenly we've gone from the living room to the kitchen.
Hey, Craig, does Adele have a sister?
Ken, on the move, his target...
I just want to say thanks to everone who was at the party
A nights sleep and my first real coffee (actually espresso) in three days and I'm ready to tell you, my faithful readers, about the trip.
So, 3 days, 3000 km, 32 litres or windsheild washer fluid, and we are in Saskatoon. All safe and secure. Will write more soon.
And now a poem, by Mr Des Gilling.
Whistling a Happy Tune
In Godforsaken SaskatoonPat and Kat – they no longer rhyme
That was a poem from another time
And Pat don’t think about marriage twice
Not like Pierre and Peter – they did it thrice!
You’re tall, handsome, and only 42!
No wonder I’m living vicariously through you!
My friend, you’re in your prime of life
No time for domesticity with an ungrateful wife
Forget love, my friend - lust is the trick
Don’t think with your big head, think with your dick!
Sow some wild oats, have a toss in the hay
Forget the past, the future’s the way!
In Saskatoon if truth be told
The women are desperate, horny, and cold
You’ll have your fill of more than a few
When you hit town, they’ll be all over you!
Take some advice from an old pro
Sincerity’s bullshit, it’s all about show!
Cruise around town full of style and flash
Get a new wardrobe, spend a little cash
Saskatoon broads will offer all you can take
In no time you’ll be the town’s ubiquitous rake!
And the good news my fine, Feather’s friend
We’re delighted to see you’re on the mend
Put on a smile, never more a frown
Be happy to be on your way out of town
In Saskatoon partying and sex’s not all there’s to do
There’s drinking and fighting and gambling too
But don’t call a restaurant and say “reservation”
They’ll think you’re a member of a “First Nation”
And in Saskatoon a fairy tale often told
Winter is bearable – it’s called a “dry cold”
Be careful it’s freezing out there, don’t wander too far
In Saskatoon, remember - always plug in your car.
Life is often funny, sometimes unfair
You thought together you were a likely pair
And who would have thought when it came to your spouse?
There was actually a fox in the hen house
But friendship can be a tenuous thing
Who could have know about the fling
Sometimes we’re foolish, too trusting, too naïve
Oh what a tangled web they’d weave
But when all is said and done
it’s not about who’s lost or won
It’s about integrity and honesty at all cost
You have everything to gain and nothing lost.
The winner in this debacle it’s true
Is not your former half, my friend – it is you
When you decided this issue worth sharing
We cheered you up; no more despairing
This bash is to see you on your way
Tomorrow’s your future – a brand new day!
Live, love laugh!!!
Des
Thanks for the poem Des, and the two recitations.
Yesterday was an interesting day, if by interesting you refer to the Chinese curse.
The day was good to begin with I finished off my pages and delivered them to the courier, so far so good. I received an e-mail from an old girl friend whom I hadn't had contact with in about 15 years. She had moved back to Saskatoon with her husband and children. She had decided to try and track me down, apparently it was not that hard to do. So I gave her my future contact info and we agreed to get together. I can't tell how good the idea of knowing that someone other than family will be there in Saskatoon.
I did a little packing and sooner than I expected, my brother was at the door. He'd driven the distance in 3 days.
Katrina came over.
I was nice. I was civil. I did not say most of what i wanted to say to her. I did not let the bile out.
The three of us went out to a nice little pizza joint around the corner and had a civil dinner. When we came back, Mac phoned home, leaving Katrina and I together.
She asked if I would keep in contact with her. I said I didn't know if I would or could, and the flood gates opened. Now Iam a guy, and though I don't mind writing about the fact that I cry, I don't want anyone to see me in that situation. It is us at our most vulnerable. Men tend to pull away when we cry, because it is such a vulnerable thing. I went down stairs, and she followed. She tried to comfort me, and I asked her to leave. She hadn't provide any comfort when I really needed it, allowing her to do so now would only make her feel as if she had done good (or some such, I was angry and sad and my thoughts were not exactly coherent).
Apparently she left in tears, according to Mac.
I am not happy about this.
I am not proud that she was crying.
I'm not really bitter.
I just hope that she gets it. I hope she begins to understand the world of hurt that she has imposed upon me.
And while I don't want her to be in any pain. I've had enough. I don't want to feel that way anymore. I did not sign up for this.
Okay, maybe I am a little bitter.
Just a little bit.
I received a call Friday afternoon, from one of my favourite editors, she asked me if I could work on a book being written by Stan Lee.
Now, to be honest I have not even tried calling Marvel or any other publisher for a couple of weeks as, well, I've been a little too emotional to work. You can't draw steadily when you are crying your eyes out and blubbering like a fool. And this week I was going to sped most of my time packing up and getting ready to go.
But this is written by Stan "the man" Lee. Stan "the 26th most influential man in the world" Lee.
How could I say no?
Well, I actually thought about it, until I was told that the pencils were by Ron Lim. And he had the first five pages ready to go. And that they would be on my desk at 10 Monday morning.
Ron has a style, and more importantly a rhythm to his pencils that I find remarkably easy to jam to. There is a cartoony aspect that doesn't rely on pseudo-japanamation (no, I know that that is not a real word, but to those in the know it will make sense). His pages are incredibly clean, his drawings are sure and complete, with a fair amount of wriggle room for me to have fun with.
BUT!
But the whole story need be done in two weeks.
Three to four days of which I would be on the road and in no condition to draw after 10 to 12 hours of driving.
So we did what any rational adult human beings do, we talked about it and came up with a compromise, I'd do the first half of the book, and another inker will finish the remaining pages.
If only marriage was that easy.
It has been a little over a month now, since that which we refer to as "the Event" occurred, and a little over a week until I depart from Toronto and return to Saskatoon.
It has been almost ten years since I lived in Saskatoon. We lived for five years in Saskatchewan's north, in La Ronge and five years here in the big smoke, Toronto. And now I'm running back to Saskatoon, as the boys from the Guess Who used to sing (or was it BTO?).
In any event, I'm going back to the prairies, back to Mitchell country, back to the wind and the snow, back to the old stomping grounds, to try and get my head back together and figure out what the heck to do next.
What I am going to miss the most are the friends that I've made here, good people who like to chat, to sip a beer and share a story. Spider Robinson once quipped that "Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy." I've shared my joy, and recently my pain with some of the nicest people I can imagine, and sat for many hours on the red crushed velvet seats in the best of all pubs (some will debate me on this, but they will lose) The Feathers. And thus we refute entropy.
Today is a good day, tomorrow will be better.
