The other day when I turned my phone back on during a break at work, I found that I had two voicemails. This was disconcerting, as I virtually NEVER get voicemails--no one really has a need to call me during the day...everyone knows I WORK during the day. Plus, most also know I'm best reached via text, facebook, or email. So this grabbed my attention.

Turned out that I'd been granted "veto power" by my mom as far as my dad being allowed to get a cat. Our family has had exactly two cats: Kayla, who we had from January 1992 until May of this year; Christy, who we had from Spring 1995 until September 2008. And after the way the loss of Kayla hit me and still hurts and affects me...and that I'm in town frequently to help around the house, Mom put it in my hands, as neither of them wanted to just spring some new cat on me/put it into my life without me having some say.

But to make another part of the story short: I saw the shelter listing for this cat--Sigmund--and was smitten. And hokey as it sounds, he perfectly passes all but one of my "new cat tests," and passes that other one with satisfaction.

- Kayla & Christy were female: given much choice, I don't want another female. Sigmund is a boy-cat.
- Christy was a black-and-white shorthaired cat; Kayla was a sealpoint himalayan. Sigmund is a yellowy-orange flamepoint.
- The name "Sigmund" sounds NOTHING like "Kayla" or "Christy."
- While Sigmund is himalayan...being a flamepoint, he looks nothing like Kayla color-wise; can't help the basic characteristics of the breed.

The way he's described...I'm quite willing to give this cat a chance. In fact, I'm going to be reeeeeeally disappointed if Dad is NOT able to adopt this cat, now.

But that's where the "Lucky" part comes in.

The listing that caught Dad's attention, that "sold" me on allowing this cat into our lives? It was premature. They weren't supposed to have posted it yet. We're not entirely clear on what the situation is: the cat was mistakenly placed into the shelter, or there's still time left in the period allowed for previous owners to (re)claim the animal, or something.

So, back to a home with previous owners; adopted by someone else; or adopted by Dad...though Sigmund might not even know it...he's got a home.

And that makes him a lucky cat.

Nine months after I first watched it, Turtles Forever has at last arrived on DVD. And watching it tonight...it did not have the initial novelty thrill factor...but was still highly enjoyable--especially having the precise control of a DVD player's remote to pause, step forward a couple frames at a time, and so on. This alone allowed great identification of many great cameos ("cameo" being far too strong a word, probably) which upped the enjoyment factor this time through.

Unfortunately, my 'review' of the film last November is still an exact fit. Really, the only difference between what I watched back then compared to what I watched on this DVD is that what I watched in November was on a DVR with commercials to fast-forward through...and this is on a DVD with no commercials.

There are no extras, no commentaries, no subtitles, no bonus features...no interviews, no art galleries, no....well, any of the sort of stuff that could've made this an ultimate TMNT package.

All you get is the DVD case, and the disc itself, for this 73-minute film.

That said...unless you're just absolutely chomping at the bit to see this at all...wait for it to hit the bargain bins, or buy it used, or Netflix it. It's well worth seeing--but this reeks of being a "token" release and nothing more.

For lengthy plot-synopsis and immediate thoughts to my original viewing, see this link: TMNT Forever (Nov. 21, 2009).

I've spent more time using a Wii in the past three months than I have all other game systems (and computer games) in the past half-decade. However, this Wii has yet to (in my apartment) taste a single Wii game/disc. For these months, the only disc it's had is the Netflix streaming disc.

The Wii has been my "Netflix cable box" and has allowed me to watch an entire season of My Name is Earl, part of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, revisit an old comics documentary (Comic Book Confidential), and discover a whole small world of movies I've thoroughly enjoyed, even though I've never heard of them until moments before hitting "Play."

I'm not going to spend $15-$20+ on untried, unheard-of movies to buy them outright, never having actually seen them. But when I can browse a huge list of movies, and either the title or premise grabs me...and I can begin watching within moments...I've discovered a number of movies that way. (Perhaps my favorite being one called "All the Days Before Tomorrow").

Which brings me to my point.

The other night, I noticed The Land Before Time in the mix of "suggestions" from new releases. I added it to my queue. Tonight, after starting a couple other movies and losing interest, I decided I'd watch a few minutes of this classic film. Before I knew it, I was into the heart of the movie, and there was much less time left than not, so I finished it.

It's been years since I'd watched this movie. The last I recall for sure having seen it was spring semester of my senior year of college--watching it on VHS.

At the time, it was highly eye-opening: I saw it in an ENTIRELY different light than any other time I'd seen it; perhaps for coming after all the college classes and experiences, and being a Pop Culture major in the midst of writing several papers analyzing works of fiction, looking at and for deeper meanings, and so on.

Tonight, I still saw some of that, though the academic in me is more "interested" than "eager" tonight. Here I am writing about it anyway, though...not so much analyzing the film, as waxing nostalgic.

Disney's The Lion King bears some resemblance...I'd first heard of "The Circle of Life" from ol' Rooter, not Mufasa...and it was Littlefoot's mother showing her son the way before Mufasa and Simba...but I digress.

I find two great "quotes" from the film...

Originally Posted by Littlefoot's Mother

"Some things you see with your eyes. Others, you see with your heart."

and

Originally Posted by Littlefoot's Mother

"Let your heart guide you. It whispers--so listen closely."

There's also the song that leads the end credits--"Let's Hold On Together," as sung by Diana Ross.

This film precedes my love of comics. I don't think I'd even seen a comic book when my mom first took me to see this film in the theatre. This was one of the earliest films I got to see in a movie theatre (I have vague recollection of having seen The Great Mouse Detective and An American Tail in the theatre prior...though this was 22 years ago, so my memory may not be 100% accurate).

I recall seeing an ad for this during the summer just before my family moved from Michigan to Ohio. I was into that "Dinosaur Phase," and this had perfect timing. I got to see the film during its initial run in theatres...and Christmas that year involved a couple storybooks adapted from the movie, and I think there may have been a "junior novelization" as well. And a large (I thought "life-size") plush Littlefoot.

As that young kid, I even once had aspirations of someday growing up and helping to create a sequel (little knowing that there would be more than a dozen straight to video sequels that would butcher the concept and squander any specialness the original film held).

But tonight...a walk back to a place 22 years in the past, to a 7-year old enthralled by what his 29-year-old self would otherwise consider a quaint, charming-in-its-own-way film with plot-holes a van could be driven through.

Plenty of other thoughts, and maybe someday I should expand in a much more structured format on the film.

The VHS--which I still own, the original, $35ish, original 1989 edition--was the first VHS tape I recall having (up to that point, my family had Betamax...I'm pretty sure Dad relented and bought the first VHS machine because of this movie and my childish adoration of it).

The first DVD I recall buying, the summer after college was The Lion King. One format to the next--I find myself wondering what my first Blu-Ray will (eventually) be.

I wonder if it's even available as such--and wouldn't it be FITTING--if my first Blu-Ray would BE The Land Before Time?

While at Gen Con this past weekend, my friends and I went to a "Paint-and-take" event. Basically...we showed up, and they provided a miniature, the paints and brushes, and the space to work.

I spent TWO HOURS painting this little dwarf.

You wouldn't think that to look at him, though--look at him, and you'd probably figure I spent 10 minutes on him, given the crappy paint-job. (To say nothing of the lack of color-coordination).

I started out thinking I'd make him unique--he'd be a GREEN dwarf. Then I got ahold of some "Ancient Bronze" paint, and decided that'd be good for his shield and helmet. Decided on blue chainmail from there. Black to outline the shield--I was going to have some red in there, but never quite got to it. Ditto for his kilt or whatever it is--but wound up shortcutting and just making it all black. Got an orangey color and used that for his pouches and sandals/boots/whatever-they-are. Gave him a silver beard and eyebrows. Red eyes to stand out. Tried to give his hammer a sort of wood-handle-with-metal-attachments look. And went with a pinkish color for the armor--I don't remember why, but I think I was going to try to do something over top of it.

Trying to aim the paintbrush JUST right to ONLY get paint EXACTLY where I wanted it, I went crosseyed at least twice. And one of my friends commented on my use of the bright colors--my super-hero dwarf. Which got me thinking about the subconscious stuff to my color choices--basically, being very much a superhero comics guy, it is no surprise that I'd be drawn to brighter colors over a much more subtle/darker color scheme.

And from all that, tonight I pulled out the primer I'd bought five or six months back (if not last year) and a few of my WARMACHINE minis that have been sitting untouched on a shelf where I put them December 4th. And though I've had these particular minis for at least 5 years now...today I actually FINALLY primed 'em.

Next step is to acquire the paints. There are paint sets with colors specific to each main faction in WARMACHINE, as well as general colors. My intent is to buy that faction-specific set, as well as other common colors and some metallic paints, and simply see what I can get done with these. I really don't harbor any illusion of painting my entire collection (meager though it is). But even if I just get a a few pieces painted, and maybe prime 'em all...I'll probably be happy-ish. I have two main minis I intend to paint; the rest will largely be to "practice."

OR if I just get really into it.

Of course, this presently being a solo activity--perhaps I'll grow bored and give it up faster than I got back in.

Whatever the case...from something old that I've owned for years--the minis--comes something new--the priming and painting.

Should I make it TO the actual painting stage, I'm sure I'll have more photos to post and such.

This past weekend, I attended Gen Con with a couple of my oldest friends.

The journey to Indianapolis was good--got to see other old friends, revisit the BGSU campus, and generally made the very trip itself a social thing.

The last time that my friends and I attended Gen Con--back in 2005--we were into several games. Warmachine, Star Wars Minis, and some lingering Heroclix interest. There were lots of freebies in the "swag bag" with admission, and loads of freebies being given out by the various companies and dealers, just for walking by.

This time around...none of us are into any of the collectible games, there was virtually nothing in the swag bag (it ain't truly "free" if "free" is preceded by "Spend $50/$100/$xx and get _______") and my budget for the TRIP was less than what I'd spent the last time in the main exhibitors' hall. So my sole convention purchase was at a Half-Price Books booth...Captain America: Reborn.

Suffice to say...we've decided that next year...we're going to the Chicago Comic Con.

Four years ago, when Marvel first started the hype-machine of Civil War, part of what I most recall from things was the "I'm With..." banners (and I still seem to see banners inspired by those to this day).

At the time, I sided with Captain America. And in many ways, I think I still would.

However, over the last several months as I've read Iron Man: Extremis, Invincible Iron Man "omnibus" vol. 1, single issues of Stark: Disassembled and the current Stark Resilient arc...and in the last few days have backtracked to read Iron Man: Execute Program and Civil War: Iron Man...

I've realized that I would side differently, choosing now.

Without getting into deeper political stuff, something about having read more from Iron Man's side of things and balancing the scales a bit has led me to this conclusion.

I've also come to feel that on the whole, Iron Man--Tony Stark--is a much richer character for the Civil War...even WITH the current status quo.

If you were into comics in 2006, or aware of Marvel's Civil War...who did you side with? Did you side with one or the other? How do you think your perception of the overall story was affected (if at all) by "choosing sides?"

I've lived a number of places in my 30 years. The longest in any one place was 11 years in a small suburb of Cleveland, OH that remains a periphery of my "stomping grounds," so to speak. I currently live about a mile from the Akron border, and work in Akron, OH. I spent about 4 years living in cities about equidistant from Akron and Cleveland, so aside from living 8 months of 12 in Bowling Green, OH for about 4 years...I've lived 22 years of my life in "the Cleveland area."

I've never been much of a sports guy...at best, a fair-weather fan. But...as far as "hometown teams" go, I turn to Cleveland. The Indians, the Browns, the Cavs.

But there was something to having this player on the "local" team that was pretty cool. When I saw an article about some piece by Greg Horn of LeBron, it was different than seeing the same sort of thing about Shaq, or Michael Jordan, or any other big-name NBA "star." Cuz this LeBron guy was from the closest I had to a "home town."

I don't fault the guy for leaving. I'm kinda surprised he hadn't left already...but sound bytes had also given me hope that maybe, maybe he'd stay a few more years.

I've said since the Cavs were taken out of the playoffs that IF LeBron actually wanted to stay in Cleveland, he should have the decency to SAY so. I get that he wanted this free agency thing...but even with that: be up front. Tell the team, the city "Hey, I want to stay, but I also want to see what else is out there, what else I might be offered, see if there are any better options." Tell up front what it would take to GET him to stay.

Alternatively, if he'd already made up his mind: say so. "Hey, I'm leaving. I don't know where to just yet, but I'm leaving, and you're gonna have to figure out how to deal with that." But stringing the city, the fans, the NBA along as he did reeked of childish ego and drama.

And the (yeah, I'll use the term: narcissistic) spectacle of the forum for announcing his decision?

That's what makes him a "villain" in my eyes.

To see him leave...that would have been disappointing. It would've sucked. There'd be some issue with it--how it (maybe) holds against previous statements he's been on the record with. But at the end of the day, it would have been a man, a basketball player, weighing his options and making a decision--business or otherwise--about his own future. The only obligation I'd feel he owed "us" would be to stand up and be up front about intentions--OR uncertainty, if there was any.

I've seen a number of opinion pieces the last couple days painting James as a villain, and at least one specifically makes a comparison to comics:

"They way he spoke of himself and his new teammates, they weren’t ballplayers so much as super-heroes. Of course, everybody knows what turns guys from good to evil in the comic books. It’s never money. It’s hubris."

So...if LeBron James is the new Hero-turned-Villain...what comes next? Is it a black-and-white case of betrayal and villainy? Is this just a case of misunderstanding cast from the worst possible light? Or something else?

Time'll bear that one out.

I'm a story kinda guy.

I prefer the stories in comics to the art--though of course, with a comic, the art is intrinsically tied to the story (and vice-versa). But it's safe to say that I tend to read comics for the stories more than for the art. (Which is not to disparage the art).

With tv, I don't mind if a show is low-budget, so long as there's a strong story.

And I have no real interest in blu-ray other than for the stupid 'exclusive' extras that seem to be packed onto them to "sell" people on the up-conversion (I'm happy with DVD, I don't own a high-def tv, and since I also WATCH more for story than effects...I don't care if I see every nose-hair on someone or whatever).

I also don't have to see every movie that's available in 3-D, IN 3-D. I've seen Avatar, and Toy Story 3 so far in 3-D, and both impressed me visually. But the 3-D was not the selling point (I saw and quite enjoyed Up last year in 2-D--story's just the same whether 2-D or 3-D).

And the point of all this:

Tonight, I was at The Exchange (one of a chain of used-media stores around here), and happened to spot VHS copies of Toy Story AND Toy Story 2 sitting on a shelf of clearance VHS for $2.50/ea. I mentally registered the things, consciously ignored them, then remembered that I actually DO have ready access to be able to watch VHS (just haven't REALLY bothered to do so in about 2 years).

So I'm up late yet again...but I watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2...which were like new movies: apparently, I must've only seen them once each, and that upon being new VHS releases, making the most recent viewing nearly 13 years ago. But I saw Toy Story 3 on Monday, and can't afford $20/ea on the new-release of TS & TS2 on dvd.

$5 to be able to simply WATCH the two movies was more than worth it (especially compared to some recent $4.99 comics)...and it did not matter that they weren't some special dvd. Right now, I wasn't interested in any 'extras' or such: just interested in the STORY. Interested in revisiting the first two movies, curious at what perspective I'd have of 'em having seen the 3rd.

When it comes to simply wanting to see a movie, I can't justify the $13-$20 many movies cost these days...and this just takes that point home all the more.

But I suppose getting into the pricing of movies should be a whole different post.

Today while grabbing the other books for the week, I spotted this Fables issue from the "What Next" initiative from DC. For a $1, I'm willing to give most anything a try, especially given any reasonable expectation of enjoying it. And when it comes to these reprints...I'm all for it.

While standing in line to pay for my comics, I noticed the Samurai Commando book on the sale table for $.50. Another price where--especially for a book of this size--manga or otherwise--and a volume 1.....I'll check it out.

And of course, the Curse of the Mutants Saga was tucked into the Comic Shop News the owner tucks into the bag every week. And just as I wound up checking out and getting pulled into Second Coming...I'm on the verge of being pulled into the X-Men/Vampires thing this month.

But $1.50 for these three items, which'll take at least a good hour or so to read, vs. $3.99 for less than 1/3 of that.

Not a bad deal...

It doesn't seem all that long ago that "programming the VCR" was a regular part of life during the regular TV season, as well as ensuring either a blank VHS tape or one already set to a specific point, with a specific amount of tape remaining, was part of the process.

Now, after nearly 2 years with a DVR, I take it for granted being able to simply look something up, and choose to record by the program rather than setting a channel and time to start/time to end. Even better is the ability to set several variables: record this show just this once; record all new episodes of this series; record all episodes of this series, etc.

Anyway...somewhere along the way, apparently I set up a recording for The Big Bang Theory. I'd thought I had it set for all new episodes, but apparently it was for all episodes.

After several weeks of really not watching tv (I've been using Netflix online to watch My Name is Earl season one and Avatar: The Last Airbender book 1, as well as a couple movies), I decided to see what I had left on the DVR from the past year or so.

To my surprise...four episodes of Big Bang Theory. Reruns, sure...but I had not seen these yet. Given this nice little surprise...I had myself a mini marathon.

That's also one of the things I really like about sitcoms: while there may be some overall themes and some events do play out over the course of a season or series...the episodes generally stand alone. Which means that UNlike shows like Lost or other serialized dramas...I really don't need to have seen the previous episode to be able to "get" and enjoy any random episode I happen to watch.

Even though it's been roughly 8 months with nearly nothing new/changed...I still occasionally pull up http://ninjaturtles.com/ to see if there's anything new. Of course, there isn't...when the webmaster had first mentioned handing the site over to Viacom/Nikelodeon, I'd halfway expected a new site to replace the old within days. After all...they'd just acquired the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...lock, stock, and barrel.

I also pull it up because I almost never remember if Mirage's new website is "themiragegroup.com" or "miragelicensing.com" and they have a handy link at the top of the homepage.

So, last night I was looking at the Mirage page, and noticed a couple of links...one of high interest to me: Nickelodeon to release "Turtles Forever" on DVD.

This was a special that aired late last year...and seemed somehow unlikely at the time that there WOULD be a DVD.

Essentially, it brought the 1980s TMNT into contact with the 2000s TMNT as both sets of turtles dealt with the 2000s Shredder, who threatened to ruin reality by destroying the original TMNT. (I posted a brief synopsis and my thoughts on it last year after it aired.)

Now that it seems to be confirmed there WILL be a DVD...I'm quite excited and looking forward to owning this.

Last October or so, a friend called me up, and over the course of probably 45 minutes on the phone had me "sold" on Deadpool.

Now, I knew who the character was, had read a number of his appearances throughout the 1990s, but he'd fallen off my radar. This friend caught me up fairly vaguely--enough detail to interest me, but avoiding enough that there was still enough to be worth reading myself.

Over a very short period of time, I bought the then-current issue of Deadpool, backtracked 3 or 4 issues, went online and ordered Suicide Kings in hardcover, obtained Deadpool vol. 1 TPB (Secret Invasion) and the Deadpool/Thunderbolts TPB from Half Price Books; bought Merc With a Mouth #3 and ebayed #s 1-2, picked up Deadpool #900 when it came out, and for 3-4 months followed all the Deadpool books in single-issue format. Meant for that time I was buying Deadpool, Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth, and Deadpool Team-Up, as well as then also picking up the 5-issue Deadpool Corps. Prologue mini-series, and the first issue of Deadpool Corps. I also snagged (with a 40% off coupon for Borders) the Deadpool/Cable Ultimate Edition vol. 1.


Recently, I picked up the Fraction/Larocca Invincible Iron Man 1-19 hardcover (with another 40% off coupon for Borders); I've bought the last 3 issues (25-27) as single issues; I broke out the Heroes Reborn: Iron Man collected volume I've had for several years; picked up Iron Man: Extremis (with yet another 40% off coupon from Borders); hunted every comic store I could find in the local area and wound up ordering an issue from a store in Texas to acquire the Stark Disassembled arc.

A week or so after finding that final issue, I received an email that I'd won an auction on eBay...seems I'd put a bid in on some Iron Man: Director of Shield comics (19-33 or so) during the hunt for Invincible Iron Man #22.

Thursday evening I logged into the Clevnet library system, and requested TPBs with issues 7-18 (immediately preceding the Director of Shield run); as well as the TPB of the Avengers Disassembled: Iron Man arc (the final 6 issues of the 1998 series).

And I'm contemplating a hunt for the ~45-50 issues between that and where I'd left off around #30 (Quesada's arc after Busiek left the book) to have read Iron Man going back to the beginning of Heroes Reborn.

As with many things in my life...once I'm "into" something...I really dive in. When it comes to certain comic characters, it seems I go for that "character infusion," reading huge chunks of material in a relatively short span of time.

Also did that with Green Lantern toward the end of 2008, and I'm presently 6 issues into a 69-issue stack a friend loaned me of The Amazing Spider-Man (a challenge I plan to write about later).

Am I just weird in this? Or do others go on these character/title binges for an "infusion" of that particular character or series?

Tonight, I have to say "yes."

I was walking from the kitchen when I spotted Zip, a beanie baby that's been a mainstay at each of my apartments including/since grad school. This toy cat was just laying on the back of a chair--his usual spot--but something about the positioning instantly brought a load of memories rushing back to conscious thought...

Kayla reaching out to swat a string. Kayla chasing down the hall after Dad when he'd force-fed her a pill she needed to take. Kayla swatting my nose when I tried to have a staring contest with her. Kayla sitting next to Dad, reaching for his arm in the hopes that he'd give her his food. Kayla sitting next to me, reaching for my arm in the hopes I'd give her my food. Kayla sitting pretty, cute as can be, just long enough for me to think that'd make a great photo, grabbing the camera, and then swatting at it as I attempt to actually photograph her.

All these memories of her...and it still seems so incredibly unreal to me that she's gone. That I'll never again see her sleeping on a cushion, sitting on the back of the couch, hold her, cuddle her, feel her purr, hear her meow.

But then, she was part of my life for over 18 years. And it's been less than six weeks since she died.

I've been meaning to do this for a long, long time.

I've somehow managed to keep this single page from an old calendar, and keep it from getting destroyed and mangled through the years...I've had this since probably 1991 or 1992...if not a bit earlier.

Now, finally, I bought a frame, fit the page into it, and have a nice little piece of TMNT art to hang on the wall.

Nothing huge or special, really...but it's a way to both display, and preserve, a little piece of my past.

One weekend last October, my parents were visiting my sister in New York. As this was a several-day thing, I volunteered to spend a couple days at their house, primarily to ensure the cat was fed, watered, and clean up after her.

That first evening, I got it into my head that I owned a small run of early Deadpool comics...and having just recently gotten back into some interest in the character, thought I'd dig them out.

Of course...my comics haven't been properly organized since 1998 or so...which meant that "digging them out" involved pulling all my comic boxes out of storage to go through them one by one. Since I had the house to myself, it wasn't a big deal...I had the time and space to take on this challenge.

Somewhere along the way, my cat joined me. She heard me in this room, heard stuff being moved around, and knew that her human was doing something, and she didn't want to be alone. I let her in--figuring there was no harm having her around while I went through boxes. And she always did love ANY box.

So while I was moving boxes, she was climbing them. While I was flipping through comics in one box, she was poking her head in a box I'd left open (or didn't have a lid?). And at one point, I heard a very familiar sound: a cat's paws on a "scratching surface." She'd decided that an open box of comics--the top of those comics--suited her paws just fine as a surface to scratch on. She came to us declawed, so we never had an issue of her tearing anything up when she'd "scratch" on something.

Ten years ago, and certainly through the 1990s, I would've been absolutely HORRIFIED at my cat using comics as a scratching pad. That night, though...I got a good laugh out of it, and put my hunt for Deadpool comics on hiatus to takes some photos of Kayla checking out my collection.

And I have to say...

There's nothing quite like the purr of approval from your cat who has been with you for the vast majority of your comic collecting life.

Miss Kayla Krystal Kneeland: October 4, 1990 - May 9, 2010

It's been nearly 3 years since I last attended what I consider a "major convention," that is, one of the big-name, nationally-known (or even internationally-known) conventions.

After a few years of attending the Origins gaming convention in Columbus, OH and attending a couple Gen Cons in Indianapolis, IN, a friend and I decided--since 2006 didn't work out well on the gaming con front--to go to Wizard World Chicago back in 2007.

Due to schedules, finances, and other issues...didn't go to ANY conventions in '08 or '09.

But this year, looking at attending Gen Con for a day with 2 of the 3 friends I've attending prior major conventions with.

Geeking out on it a bit the last 12 hours or so--looking up lodging prices, and considering specifics for the con itself.

Primarily, I want to attend a panel by Tracy Hickman--co-author of the "core" Dragonlance series of novels, as well as a number of other books. I'd like to "re-meet" him in some capacity, probably get a book signed/personalized.

I have every intention of avoiding the purchase of any "collectible" games, and have no real pre-conceived notion of any particular "self-contained" or "non-collectible" game I might buy. Part of the fun of these cons is discovering something new. One year, I discovered a card game called "Spammers." Another year, my friend and I discovered "Monkey Arena," which to date is my favorite board game that is not available through most gaming stores.

I do, however, intend to look for a $15/$20 or less copy of the Devil's Due graphic novel/collected edition of Dragons of Autumn Twilight in hardcover. And the most recent hardcover editions of the actual novels Dragons of Winter Night, The Second Generation, and Dragons of Summer Flame--ideally for around $10/each.

Might be a fool's errand--as these are all out of print, and their printed cover price is significantly higher.

Also really looking forward to the travel--getting away from work for a few days, and getting the chance to spend four days with two of my best friends, doing what we love to do--indulge in games and/or comics. It'll also be kinda interesting being back at the convention center in Indianapolis...haven't been there in a couple years, and the last 3 times I was there was for Christmas Conference during my time with Campus Crusade.

In this day 'n age, it seems like there is far more that I'd like to read than I could ever possibly hope to have the time for. Just today at work, I got to thinking momentarily about that Twilight Zone episode, "Time Enough At Last."

Back in high school, I used to read all the time, and had plenty of time FOR it. I could catch a few minutes here and there between class periods, during a study hall, or after an exam or whatever. Then there was that half hour or so on the bus each way. Even once I got involved with the marching band and nearly every other non-athletic student organization, there were those waits for a parent to pick me up.

I've started several books this year...but right now, I think the only non graphic book I have actually managed to read cover to cover in 2010 is Left Behind. I'm making a go at Stephen King's The Wastelands (Dark Tower book III) at work during breaks and lunch, but that's been slow going with various distractions of late. I'm interested in Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid (thanks to Blake Petit), but can't justify the purchase when I don't know that I'd read it immediately. I've had Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's Good Omens sitting out for a couple months waiting to be read.

I'm increasingly curious about James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small series, and I'm contemplating borrowing my mom's copy of Chicken Soup for the Cat-Lover's Soul. I've started into More Stories of Cats and the Lives They Touch, (a small hardcover collection of stories from various authors, published by Guideposts).

This doesn't even take into account the comics and collected volumes I want to read--and of course, due to their nature, there are more every week.

In addition to work, I find my time quickly taken up by other things--friends, family, Netflix streaming, tv seasons on DVD, Facebook, online message forums, writing, etc.

But it's interesting to imagine: if I didn't have to work, if I was all alone in this world, and "technology" didn't work...how much could I read if I had time enough at last?

I visited a new comic store today.

Well, "new" might not be quite the word...but it was new for me, as I'd never been there before.

As a bit of a random thing, I decided to use the Comic Shop Locator Service to see what other comic stores might be in my vicinity. I pretty much have things to the north and east of my apartment covered, so this time, I turned my search south.

Discovering a listing for a comic shop within a reasonable distance, I decided to make the trek after work--as I was already a bit south for work anyway. Of course, I told myself that if the traffic was bad (there's a spot where odds are 50/50 it'll be like a parking lot on the freeway) I'd forego my seeking of this shop...but traffic was fine, so I made it to the shop (turned out I'd been within a mile of the place last October and hadn't even known it).

Not terribly exciting a place--it was small (far smaller-looking from the outside, though), located at the edge of a small plaza--I barely spotted it, and I was looking for it.

When I walked in, the first thing I heard was a bit of coarse language from the speakers--surprised me such would be allowed on the radio. I quickly realized, though, that it was a podcast (eventually recognized it as Comic Geek Speak), and warmed to it...maybe I'm not in the mood to try to strike up conversation with the guy at the counter, but there was something about listening to a podcast without headphones, outside my apartment or car...and moreso, listening to one about comics while browsing a comic shop.

I was thrown a bit by the store's system of presenting new and recent comics. They have what at first appears to simply be a wall of comics hanging in comic bags. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the comics were hanging over shelves, and if you lift the hanging comic, a stack of that issue was sitting on the shelf behind. So when you stand back...you can see the full front cover of all the new issues being offered. (Something that does well with a number of comics moving the title logo around (like recent Avengers comics), and even with the books that have their logo in the traditional top-third of the cover, you can also see the full image--so you're neither buying based on just part of an image nor just the title's logo. It seems so simple a thing...yet I don't think I've ever seen this sort of setup before.

I was initially disappointed to not see any of the Boom! Kids books among this wall of comics...but wound up locating them on their own shelf (with Johnny DC and other publishers' books--like Fraggle Rock). The shelf faced the wall of comics...keeping the kids' books separate, yet doing so without relegating them to some corner/totally-set-apart section of the store.

It also took a bit to realize that the wall of comics had at least two weeks' worth of books--though probably more like a month, given some of the books I saw. I even located Rescue #1...though was disappointed at its $3.99 price (I think I'd known the price before, but forgot it was a $4 book). I almost bought it, but remembered a friend had already secured a copy for me, and so I opted to hold off.

The back issue selection seemed rather slim overall: virtually nothing but DC or Marvel. These were stored alphabetically and in bags and boards. I didn't look at many...just not much I'm interested in right now in terms of single-issues as backstock. Probably the highlight of the back issue selection was a section of kids' comics: flat-priced at $1.99/each. These included a recent selection of Archie books, as well as Boom! Kids books, and a number of Johnny DC books. I didn't see any complete minis or "runs," though, which was a bit of a bummer.

The collected volume selection was both impressive, and not. I saw most of what I'm used to seeing at other shops, but there were a couple books that stood out--though they didn't make much of an impression as I can't even remember now what they were. I specifically looked for Flash: Blitz (collecting that arc from Wally's series, around #s 197-200 from 2003 or so) as well as (any) TMNT books...with no luck. I noticed an occasional volume with a yellow sticker on it...had no idea what this meant, as there was nothing else on the books. (Sure, I could've asked the guy at the counter...but I wanted to figure things out on my own).

I finally picked an issue for myself, and snagged an issue for a friend (whose LCS neglected to put it in his pull-bag, though they'd remembered the issue after). While paying for the issues, I noticed a sign behind the counter: those stickers on the collected volumes? They indicated that particular book was 50%-off.

So...the place'll be worth visiting again...probably not as a sole destination, but at the least, if I'm ever in the area for the airport, or meeting extended family, or going to Quaker Steak 'n Lube with the guys...I'll probably try to stop by the place again.

I sometimes feel like I'm the only guy without a proper pull-list or pull-box or whatever. I had one during college, at the comic shop I frequented from age 11-onward (which would occasionally fill up, resulting in a phone call from the owner making sure I still wanted my comics held).

These days, I haven't 100% settled on any single store, as my "primary" shop is near enough where I work that I can zip over during my lunch break, and another is just a few minutes' drive from where I live. When I visit my parents or an old high school buddy, I'm in close proximity to two other long-time comic shops I've been going to since 1993/94, as well as a third shop in the local mall (that I discovered just a few months back).

I also have a limited budget, and occasionally will pass on something the day it's released, but pick it up a week or two later when I do have the funds; and I do enjoy the freedom of arbitrarily "dropping" a title without either leaving a shop owner with an extra copy of a book or being on the hook for a time after my decision to drop a book (which could then result in my deciding NOT to drop it after all, and likely frustrate the shop owner).

All that said...

It seems like every time I decide in advance of going to a comic shop that I want to check out a random issue out of my usual purchasing...they don't have it. Didn't get it, sold out, whatever. And that'll be the trend, as I check the various shops, until it's almost a principle thing, finding a given issue...even as it then becomes a matter of that issue not living up to the time, cost, and hassle of acquisition.