November 12, 2004
I have to make a correction. In my last entry (You know, the one just below this one), I mentioned Eric bought a Tom Robbins novel. This is not correct! He bought a Chuck Palahniuk novel instead. I mention this for the sake of accuracy and not in the belief that you really give a damn.

Here's a fun blog that I recently came across and really dig: I read the comics so you don't have to

November 11, 2004
So I suddenly got the day off yesterday and I drove to the post office to get some stamps. While driving about, I got the idea that I really need to get famous so I could meet other famous people and go on adventures and stuff. When I got back to the group home, I told this to the still recuperating-from-a-motorcycle-wreck Eric Whetsel and Eric said we should go on an adventure today. So we got in Eric's truck and we drove about the north side of town, looking at large houses around BSU and eventually browsing about at Danner's Books and Gifts (I told Eric I would give him a dollar if he would go up to the cashier and ask her if they had a copy of The Diary of Emily, the Story of a Teen-aged Slut. Eric refused). After a couple hours or so, we were back at the group home. Adventure proved to be an elusive beast, but Eric did get a Tom Robbins novel and two Whoppers out of our excursion. I, however, got nothing.

November 7, 2004

While tooling about on his motorcycle Saturday, Eric was run down by a car. Fortunately, Eric survived his ordeal with only some scratches and bruises. He is currently recuperating at home. Well-wishers can write Eric with legal advice at ericw-6@comcast.net.

November 6, 2004

Just got back from seeing The Incredibles and wow! What a brilliant and wonderful piece of work. And an extremely fun movie to boot! I really don't think Pixar can do no wrong (Though, I must admit, the preview for their next film, Cars, left me a bit lukewarm, but cars never really were my thang) and director Brad Bird proves he has the chops (and vocal talent as the diminutive and scene-stealing Edna Mode). The story and characters are strong, the sets and designs are classic, the action is everything you want in a superhero movie (and they do it right!), the score is oh-so jazzy, and the vocal talent is top notch (Bonus points for casting the great Sarah Vowell as daughter Violet). After a long and depressing week, this movie was just what I needed to perk up. Damn, I wish I worked at Pixar!

November 4, 2004
I don't know about you, but election night was damn near painful. It hurt like a botched root canal. I'm still kind of numb from the outcome. Bush's reelection is puzzling, disheartening, and ultimately very disappointing. I spent most of the day Wednesday feeling hopeless and angry. I still do. I know things will get better, but I don't know how.

October 21, 2004
BAD NEWS: I applied for a job a couple of weeks ago and I found out yesterday I didn't get it.

GOOD NEWS: My brother Todd (October 5), my nephew Nolan (October 17), and the Idiots' own Brad Quinton (October 15) recently celebrated their birthdays.

BAD NEWS: I really don't have anything else to say.

October 12, 2004

This past Sunday found me at the 15th Annual Humpback Barn Festival where I read a poem I wrote in front of a modest, but enthusiastic audience. Here's what I read:

An Invitation to Tea for Me

I'm invited to the tea party
A most glamorous affair!
I'm invited to the tea party
And all the girls will be there!

The supermodel with the butchered hair
The creepy rag doll with the glassy stare
That little pink hippo...
I wonder what she'll wear?

My wardrobe is in shambles,
But my manners are just right!
I've been practicing my air kisses
All through the night!

'Cause I'm going to the tea party!
An honor and a joy
For a plastic, squeaky pork chop
Once used as a doggie toy!

It was a beautiful day for the festival. The skies were blue and the weather was warm. Oakhurst Gardens once again served as a great backdrop for the proceedings. The turnout seemed smaller than last year's, but everybody seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Like last year, I helped out with the sales table and even sold a few copies of my comic books. Unlike last year, I witnessed an elderly man fall out of his plastic chair when the back two legs broke off as he scooted away from his table.  Fortunately, he wasn't hurt, but an accident report was filled out. 

October 9, 2004

ACTION!: Behind the scenes of "The Petrocoli Incident" with producer Tim Richardson and director Matt Stoltz

As I mentioned previously, filming continued on the Idiots' current project a couple of weekends ago. The stuff we shot centered around a Mob picnic and the climatic showdown between detective Max Petrocoli (Played by yours truly) and the dastardly mafia don, Don Cupid (Bill McIntosh in his most challenging role to date). We filmed at Prairie Creek reservoir (Just a few hundred yards from Theresa Keihn's pontoon) and ended up with a lot of good stuff. Highlights include Bill chasing after a balloon and Audrea skipping madly about while dressed as a clown. Unfortunately, we didn't get all the stuff we wanted filmed as we planned, but what we got sure seemed good. I can't wait to see how the show pieces together. Thanks again to everyone who helped with the shoot (I would name names, but you all know who you are) and I hope we can do it again real soon!

Meanwhile, our friend John Dalton was the subject of an interview at b-movie.com! Yay, John! Can I be a member of your entourage?

October 8, 2004
Besides posting a new strip today, I was planning on writing about our most recent shoot (Two Sundays ago at Prairie Creek) and how fun it was and how well it went and then I was going to mention that I'm going to be reading one of my poems at this year's Humpback Barn Festival this upcoming Sunday (October 10) at Oakhurst Gardens and I then was going to invite everybody to attend because it's always a fun event and you all really should come and then I was going to share the fact that I think I have become addicted to Gummy Krabby Patties and that I wish I had some right now, but that all went out the window because I foolishly began updating this while watching reruns of Farscape and, since I'm not a strong man, I ended up giving the show my full attention. Perhaps I should leave the TV off the next time around.

September 25, 2004
I should be saying something here, but I really don't have anything to say. I can't talk about any of the new TV shows because I haven't seen any (Though I can say I was very pleased to see Arrested Development win some Emmys last Sunday!) and the same goes for any new movies appearing at your local cineplex. Nothing much to say about the presidential race except I wish the election was over and a certain administration was on its way out. I am working in a different department at work, but who really wants to read about that?

So it's just another entry that doesn't say much at the ol' Active Blather. I promise to do better next time! Until then check this out!

September 22, 2004

Eric got a new belt.

September 18, 2004

A little confession about the flamingo strip: Originally the gag involved yard gnomes, but I was too lazy to draw them so I used plastic flamingos instead. Isn't fascinating how the creative process works?

September 11, 2004

Cartoonist Chris Bishop, creator of the gleefully disturbed Her!, just celebrated another birthday. In honor of this, he once again invited his readers to submit guest strips and, just like last year, I accepted the invitation!

September 5, 2004

Happiness is receiving a stack of Pam Bliss minicomics in the mail. Total bliss is the feeling you get after reading them.

September 2, 2004
I haven't done this for awhile so I'm a little rusty. I really don't know how to start things off. Hmmm. Well, yesterday was my niece Maddie's birthday. She turned four. She's becoming such a big girl, but I still see the baby she once was in her little face. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to her party due to the fact that I had to work. Hopefully, I won't miss the next one.

I recently submitted a new comic strip to a magazine called Avant Garde. The comic was called Lemonade's Last Stand and it featured a twentysomething slacker trying to teach a class of third graders. I admit it's not the most original concept for a strip, but I think it has potential. I really like the character designs I whipped up on the sly and I think I can do a lot of different things with the characters. Sadly, Avant Garde didn't accept the strip, but I have some new toys to play around with whenever the mood strikes.

I recently moved into a new abode and I'm slowly getting readjusted. I handle any type of change so slowly. I don't know if that makes me a wimp or not. Anyway, so far so good. I don't think I have yet to annoy my three roommates (In alphabetical order, Brad Quinton, Tim Richardson, and Eric Whetsel. All familiar names to you constant readers, I'm sure!) and I'm almost completely moved in. All the major things (bed, computer, TV, comic book collection) are here at least.

Finally, here's a picture of Bob Hope with Theresa Keihn's grandparents circa the 1940s. Enjoy!

(From left to right, unidentified man, Theresa's grandfather, Bob Hope,
and Theresa's grandmother. All complete strangers to me.)