Mystically Apocalyptic: A Trip into Wheeling, WV

Please excuse my absence on the blog. I’ve been working extra hard on KickStarter rewards and comic strips.

However, I wanted to share a little story with you.

You see, Christian (my collaborator on Validation) stopped by Wheeling on her way across the country. We got lunch at Later Alligator, a little local crepe restaurant in downtown, and if you haven’t been there, you REALLY need to go. Their crepes are delicious and have punny little names (like the Crepes of Wrath, Pesto Change-o, or the Crepe Escape. I had the Alligator Rock, and it’s delectable). They also have dessert crepes, like the S’mores Crepe. It’s as awesome as it sounds.

Anyway, after lunch, Christian and I saw some more sites, including a little bridge that will make an appearance in Charlie & Clow: The Case of the Wendigo.

2013-09-03 13.02.20 2013-09-03 13.02.13 2013-09-03 13.03.18

It goes by two names: The Bridge of Suicide Hill, or the 13 Million Dollar Mistake. Continue reading “Mystically Apocalyptic: A Trip into Wheeling, WV”

Library Haul

This afternoon I stopped at the local library to donate a bag full of books that I haven’t read in over a year. I figured the library would use those books way more than I ever would (and I know I’m right. As a former librarian, I can tell you: public libraries can always use public donations of books).

However, while I was there, I figured I would take a peek at their graphic novel section. I was hoping to see “The Sculptor” by Scott McCloud in there, but I didn’t see it and it wasn’t in the catalog.

(This is why it’s important to donate books to your local library: so that your books can be added to their catalog. And if it isn’t added, they can sell it and use that money to get – GASP – more books.

Though I was disappointed that “The Sculptor” wasn’t there on the shelves, I did find these three books, which made my day even better:

graphic novels from public local library

“Super Mutant Magic Academy” and “This One Summer” were graphic novels I had already heard about. But “In Real Life” by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang was a new one.

I’m very excited to read all three, but I’m most excited for “In Real Life.” Just based on the premise (about a MMORG-playing girl who discovers someone in the game is running a scam to try and get out of poverty) it has a lot of promise, especially for moral grayness and ambiguity of morals…which is Jen Wang’s specialty. If you haven’t read her graphic novel “Koko Be Good,” read it and you’ll see what I mean.

Have you gone to your local library recently? Found any new books to read? Leave a comment below!

Thank you for reading.

You. Are. Awesome.

Your Gender Identity is You: A Meditation

albino squirrel
This albino squirrel, stripped of its color, is still a squirrel.

I was just meditating on this idea, so I thought I would share it.

Yes, I meditate. I’m a big advocate of it because I’m the self-reflective, introverted type of person that meditates to solve problems.

This morning I thought on gender identity and how we, as a culture, place so much importance on material things to validate our identity. Continue reading “Your Gender Identity is You: A Meditation”