Jim Mahfood in AK

I had the chance to go see Jim Mahfood at the University of Alaska two days in a row.   He had a great, easy going talk on Wednesday night at the Arts building, going over a brief powerpoint show and giving us an overview of his website for all the latest artwork.  Personally, I just liked hearing that the freelance scene, at the top or the lower, middle bottom is just as hard. 

The next night, DJ Encyclopedia Brown spun while we stood by eating off-brand chocolate sandwhich cookies and FoodOne rocked out four murals.  I had a tie on, which was expectedly out of place. 

Japan Travel Diary: Day 18

Japan Travel Diary: Day 18

How to scare a child and yourself. 

Step 1: Grow a beard.

Step 2: Grow old . . . approximately twenty years older than said child.

Step 3:  Contemplate some general unfairness of life that you realized during twenty years you were waiting to grow old, such as why people die, having to work for a living, or why adults can't wear pajamas with feet and a big zipper in polite society.

Step 4: Whisper said truths in child's ear, then make a large clapping sound in the child's other ear.

 Step 5:  Double check child is crying.  If not, repeat until desired effect is reached.

Step 6:  Feel horrible about yourself and what you've become.

Step: 7:   Resolve to get younger, never die, quit work, and buy new pajamas.

Japan Travel Diary: Day 17

R.I.P. Auntie Grace

Rest in Peace, Great Auntie Grace

My wife's great Aunt Grace passed away at 87 years old in Aberdeen, Scotland.  Things that made Grace and absoulte joy to everyone and the best Great Aunt ever:  

•  Called every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for the past five years. to see how things were going and check on the weather
  
• Sent her grand-niece a crisp, brand-new twenty-pound note (or twenty dollar bill) every month since Alex was old enough to remember. 
• When picking up the bill from the bank, if it was wrinkly or used, she'd pass it back and come back the next day to get a fresh bill. 
• Sent packages full of gifts, like chocolate, crackers, "Man-Sized" Kleenex, handkerchiefs, packs and packs of socks, and pen refills. 
• Pulled off a coordinated outfit with gloves and pill box hat and made it look good.
• Could hold her own in the 'hood of Aberdeene. 
• Lived on the same block her entire life
• Didn't own a television 
• Only listened to the radio and read prodigiously. 
• All the bus drivers knew her in town and would yell "hi" as they drove by.  
• Waved goodbye to us on the train for twenty minutes without breaking her smile 
• very nearly understood my American accent. 
• very neat handwriting

Japan Travel Diary Day: Day 16

Japan Travel Diary: Day 15

A quote from a movie that hasen't been made

A new feature:


"Gentlemen, if you care anything about honor, grab these machetes and spear guns and let's do what we came here for." 

-Sgt. Louis Rockem from "American Frogman 2: Posidon's Revenge"

Mindy's going away, sob . . .

So long, Mindy.  Give Baltimore hell! 

Travel Diary: Day 13

Japan Travel Diary: Day 11

The Shirts are In! All Hail King Cabbage!

The T-Shirts have arrived!  If you pre-ordered a shirt, I'll be getting in touch with you by email arrange the delivery, so have you're money ready.  If not, you can pick up your shirt at the State Fair in Palmer starting on August 22nd.

oops, forgot one.

Man, those are sharp looking signs: The Alaska State Fair

I'll have the three books, Alaska: Big and Small, Texas: Big and Small, and Lies Told to Alaska Tourists, the new t-shirt, and a big stack of prints from the two animal books out at the fair this year in the "Babes in the Woods" booth.  I'll be at the booth the afternoon of Saturday, August 30th signing whatever's left.  See you there.