Wine Tasting on a Gorgeous Afternoon

This one just felt like it needed color. So I colored it. Don’t get too comfy with this sort of thing.

Anyways, the wine-tasting event was pretty good. I tried some whites and some reds, with my favorite probably being the Merlot of the bunch. The selection of cheeses was limited, but they were good to snack on. I didn’t go for the brie, but D braved the scene. Eventually, a newscrew from Channel 4 showed up, but Mom, D, and I were deemed too unfilmable and were ignored like the dregs in the bottom of an empty bottle. Oh wells, we tried. Or didn’t, really. The best part of the event was how laid-back it was, just sitting outside in the warm air, listening to live music, sipping wine and talking wine and all things wine-related. Look, we’re a wine family. There’s no way around it; we didn’t used to be, but we are now. So drink up!

All of the work is begun
The babies comes one by one
We lie in the midday sun
And say that this is a miracle that we’re here today
– “Miracle” by Josh Rouse

Traffic, Sarcasm, and Some Wine

Wine. It’s what’s for dinner.

Somethings can never be changed
Some reasons will never come clear
It’s somehow so badly arranged
If we’re so much the same like I always hear
– “The Larger Bowl” by Rush

Tara’s Birthday, Now with Familial Drama

That be sarcasm there in the final panel, for the slow and unknowing.

I’m not going to say any more of the situation except that whiffleball, wine, and cake helped slice the tension.

#382 – Six Brands of Wine

No words today. Not feeling well. Going to go and rest up. Maybe words later, but that’s a pretty big maybe…

Real Snapple Fact #3: Beavers can hold their breath for 45 minutes.

Across my floor I leave a shadow twenty-five feet long
The farther down, the less specific I become
And so with you, the country miles overcast our love
Oh mountain range, your hills are hard to overcome
– “The Summer Sends Its Love” by Sherwood

#363 – Tara’s Dad’s Birthday Dinner

That’s right. For once, my memory has failed me. I blame the fact that too many moments built up in my mind and then, sorta like a balloon with too much air (no, I’m not saying I’m full of hot air), pop it went. Or is that a weasel? Moving on…

I remember wine, laughs, quiet moments, awkward unearthings, text messages, bugs in the airs, dogs at our feet, food on our plates (BBQ shrimp and pasta salad and roasted veggies mmm yum), blueberry crumble pie that was crumb-buh-lievable, faux phone calls from imaginary neighbors, Romeo below the balcony, and a somewhat heated discussion of politics which I, being a journalism major and all, politely stayed out of. It’s amazing my head doesn’t explode more often with all the shtuff I keep in it.

Question of the day: I’ve got nothing. How about you ask me something? Anything at all.

If things get real for me down here
Promise to take me back to the tune
We played before you went away
– “The Sound of White” by Missy Higgins

#360 – Unrecognizable Woman

…and only about a few hours ago, as I was drawing this comic, did I realize who she was. She used to work in the mailroom at Richard Stockton College of NJ when I was a slave employee there. I used to say hello to her five days a week for like forever. I guess we never really learned each other’s names though. Our relationship was thus: I walked up to the counter, smiled, she gave me the day’s mail, I left. Anyways, if she somehow stumbles over here…hello! Give me my mail now!

In other news, I’ve put my writing blog Wistful Writings on official hiatus. I can’t really manage both of these sites, and the truth is I’m done with writing about writing. For the most part. I will share news when it happens, of course. That said, here’s what short stories I’m having published in 2008/2009 so far:

* “So Go the Seasons” – forthcoming in Black Gate (???).
* “Pigment” – forthcoming in Farrago’s Wainscot, Issue 8 (October 2008).
* “Imaginary Puissance” – forthcoming in Fictitious Force (???).
* “The Feet Eaters” – originally published in Aberrant Dreams (January 2007), this is being re-printed in Aberrant Dreams I, The Awakening — Anthology (August 2008), which should be in actual bookstores if I remember correctly.

So, there you go. My spout of self-promotion. Don’t worry…it doesn’t happen often. D, you already know the story of “So Go the Seasons” since I, in a Sangria-induced daze, told you it in its entirety.

Wow, it’s already Thursday. Huh, how ’bout that?

You’ll never take this stop to make amends that we can’t meet
You’re starting over to remember who you were
Wasting everything on what you’re living for
I know the reason and there’s just no reason
– “One Shot, Two Shots” by The Format

#329 – No Carding

Three days until NY Comic Con 08. Still trying to figure things out. Hoping for the best. Weally, weally, weally hoping for the best. I got my fingers and toes crossed. Not my eyes, that gives me a headache.

Question of the Day: I know I’ll upset some people with this, but toooooo bad. When was the last time you were carded buying liquor?

To the opium den and the barroom gin
In the Belmont chair playing violins
The gambler’s face cracks into a grin
As he lays down the king of spades
– “The Card Cheat” by The Clash

#286 – Mommy Juice

Ha, alcoholism is funny.

The weather here in New Jersey, currently, sucks. I just stood in the cold, slushy wetness of outside, cleaning snow off my car as it rained down on me. Woo. Now both my socks and shoes are wet. I hope I don’t lose any toes. Not like I can feel them at this point, anyways…

My life’s gotten simple since
And it fluctuates so much.
– “Dear Chicago” by Ryan Adams

#284 – No Vagina

Ha! I’m probably going to get yelled at for this one, but…ha! HA!

In other news, it is freezing here. Yesterday, while driving to Pam’s for some games and yummy food, on a single stretch of highway alone I went from snow to sunny clear skies to gray overcast to a complete whiteout and then back to sunny skies. Weird. The weather is all wonky. Can it just be spring now? Please? Puh-lease?

#281 – Arizona Vacation, Part Eleven

So, here we all are…the end. It was a great vacation, mostly for just how dang relaxing it was. I didn’t think about anything stressful, just enjoyed time with the fam and a kitty cat. Arizona’s a nice place, with a ton of cool shops and locales to hit up. Personally, if it wasn’t for those 156 degree days in the summer, I could see myself living out there. Maybe it was just how I saw things, but life felt like it moved a little slower, and that’s a-okay in my book. But that’d be a big move. Some days I still don’t know how Bitsy just up and did it…guess that’s why she’s the adopted one. 😛

What’s the best vacation you ever took?