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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Aug 9, 2009 22:42:14 GMT -6
Followup to my post from a while back: I have moved into a cheaper studio apartment. Since it's owned by the same management company and they wanted to keep me as a tenant, they're giving me the first month's rent free. It's a nice place and a pretty good size for a studio.
I still do not have a job. My folks have offered to help me out if things get hairy. So far, I've been on unemployment comp and have not needed to eat into savings yet.
That trip to St. Louis did not turn out as I had hoped. Nothing happened with the girl because she is moving to England for a year for a graduate program. We both still like each other so maybe one day.
The status of the comic is still touch and go. AC Comics is guaranteed distribution for the next couple issues at least so they will finish up Rowena Vol. 2. After that, it depends on how sales go.
So to sum up, I'm still not liking life that much lately. But at least I've solved the issue of where I'm going to live and I'm not in completely desperate straits.
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Post by Ardo Whortleberry on Aug 10, 2009 2:47:41 GMT -6
Fredegar: Hang In There, Man! ===
It sounds like things are still a little bit in Limbo for you, but, as you say, you are not in completely desperate straights, ( which is a very uncomfortable place to be in, I can assure you! ) -
I knew from an early age that I wanted to do something artistic when I grew up, & one of the things that came easily to me was making cartoons...
There was a professional comic strip artist, a Mr Morrie Turner, who used to make the rounds at the elementary schools in Berkeley & Oakland & sketch cartoon portraits of the kids & talk to them about the cartoon business and encourage them to do well in school and so on... ( this was in the mid -1960's ) Well, after he came by our classroom, I sort of tracked him down, and became a kind of little "groupie" of his - ( "groupie" is not exactly the right word, but close enuff ) I saw the workings of his little work-studio, he showed me some of the technical aspects behind the producing of comic strips ( which has all changed completely , almost, from those days, with the new computer technologies )...eventually, I bought a few pieces of drafting equipment & ink pens and bristol board ( after I had "studied up" on the "How To Draw Cartoons" books from the library ) & tried my hand at the pencil sketch/inking/lettering routine...
As far as my "career" ever got was to do a few cartoons for the school newspaper in junior high school, which the Journalism class was trying to put out on a daily basis... I even had a very brief-lived daily strip, which couldn't have lasted more than a couple of weeks ( at the most ) -- It revolved around a pair of roommates, one of which, named Jacques, was closely modeled on Hercule Poroit, as I had been reading Agatha Christie novels & short stories at the time... The two roommates did things like dump bowls of spaghetti on each other's heads - not very sophisticated stuff...
Although I continued sketching & sometimes painting & taking some Art courses in community college, I never really ever got back to seriously pursuing a career in cartooning, although I keep telling myself I'm going to start up again any day now...
I bought a used drafting table from Saint Vincent De Paul's seven years ago ( when we moved into our new house ) but I still haven't been able to use it for what I intended it for... ( for one thing, stuff keeps winding up getting piled on top - & for three years or so, the computer & monitor & speakers and printer were taking up all the space on there...
At least, in the last few months, I finally did pick up the sketchbook again ( after a long, long absence ) & have been trying to keep up the practice, when I am out and about - At first, it was almost a painful experience to try drawing again - ( I know that sounds silly, but after such a long absence, years of doing virtually nothing in this regard, my first attempts were clumsy and halting - & it seemed as though my "drawing muscle" had atrophied from years of neglect, and it was almost like having to learn to draw all over again... ) I may have already gone ( in a short time span ) from clumsy, rude scratchings to sketches that are now too easy to draw ( too "stylized" ) but that's still a huge step up from doing nothing at all ( drawing-wise ).....
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Post by Ardo Whortleberry on Aug 10, 2009 2:52:00 GMT -6
The big thing that's coming up for my wife and I is that we have tickets to go the Antiques Roadshow this coming Saturday, down in San Jose!!! We will have to go on a train, ( probably ) and we still have to figure out the best way to lug our treasures down there, but it should still be an exciting ( and I'm sure, tiring also ) excursion! ===
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 10, 2009 5:55:28 GMT -6
Fredegar:
What a nice management company to do that for you. It is nice to know that someone is willing to help out those who have lost their jobs in whatever way they can. I hope you find another job soon or your writing career really takes off big! I still have to go back to the AC Comics site and order the last issue of Rowena which I will do tonight. I hope their site is not showing that security issue still. If The Tale of Sir Pixis would come out and be a big hit, that would help start you off.
Ardo:
That is great that you have actually had formal classes in drawing and painting. I never did that myself and wished I had. I guess I could take some night classes of some sort. I still want to try my hand at some more of The Hobbit subject matter since it will be going into production next year. Maybe we can get a new Tolkien's Ring calendar put together--I am sure Parmastihir would like that.
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Aug 10, 2009 13:29:24 GMT -6
Thanks for the words of encouragement, folks.
Ardo, that is cool that you had some art training and got to do a comic strip (for however short a time). I've been handling the writing end of my Rowena comic with AC, as writing is my main passion. I did used to do some cartooning when I was younger though and still do a drawing now and then.
Storm, yes, a Sir Pixis release would be a big help to me (FYI Ardo, this is a fantasy novella I have been trying to get published). Didn't you say a while back that Orchard House told you the book was on their schedule for August 09? I'm not holding my breath at this point but it would be nice.
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 11, 2009 5:36:13 GMT -6
Freddie:
This is the note I received last time I inquired back in March:
August is here now. Let's see if my copy arrives soon--say by mid-Sept. If not, I will be on 'em like flies again!
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Aug 15, 2009 11:17:53 GMT -6
Here's something exciting that I've been up to lately. My friends and I have put together a new podcast called The Initiative Show, which focuses on the world of pop culture and nerd culture -- comics, movies, t.v., video games, etc. If that's of interest to you or you'd just like to know what I sound like in real life, please check it out and spread the word! www.theinitiativeshow.com(FYI, I'm referred to as Eric or E-Rick on the show)
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Post by Ardo Whortleberry on Aug 17, 2009 3:39:29 GMT -6
Good Day To You All ~~~
Well, we just barely survived our trip to "Antiques Roadshow" { And Back Again } == Man, were we ever wiped out by the end of the day! It all makes for a tale very long in the telling, ( and which I did just get finished recounting in another place ) So - I'd better tell it all later - Actually, if anyone has any curious questions about our Adventure, please send them in, and I will try to answer them next time around ==
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 17, 2009 5:58:53 GMT -6
Ardo:
If you typed your antinques roadshow adventure out on another forum, you can copy it and paste it here. I do that all the time! Saves a lot of time re-typing it and the story stays the same.
Fredegar:
Do you have to log in to the Initiative Show? I tried clicking on some of the links and nothing happened.
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Aug 17, 2009 12:55:30 GMT -6
Fredegar: Do you have to log in to the Initiative Show? I tried clicking on some of the links and nothing happened. No, no login is necessary. The audio files of the show are right there on the main page. The links at the top don't work yet because we haven't added much content to the site yet. Also, minor warning, the show gets a little...blue at times. My friends seem to have dirty minds (mostly Maui, the host). I try to get them back on topic though.
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Post by Ardo Whortleberry on Aug 18, 2009 2:03:13 GMT -6
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 18, 2009 6:08:47 GMT -6
Freddie!! Very risqué!! I had some trouble hearing everything because my hubby had the tv on while I was listening. But he heard some of it and wanted to know what I was listening to! * * * Ardo: The link took me to the other post, however, I meant you should highlight the text of what you wrote, copy it, and then paste it in this forum. You can keep two windows open on the desktop to do that. Like this: Greetings, from a very tired old hobbit ( who was a hundred times more tired just last night ) === After a ride on a bus, a trip on an Amtrak train, & a ride on a "Light Rail" train, we arrived at the Convention Center in Downtown San Jose...I had been searching for a luggage carrier just the night before ( for our ink drawing/watercolor, a fairly large-sized item, [ more than two feet high & almost a yard across, with the frame included ] & also pretty dang heavy, what with the frame and the glass ) but was unable to find any, except those with suitcases already attached...So, we had covered the item in a blanket and tied that up with plastic cord..But there was nothing left to do but haul it around... My wife carried her mom's old guitar, and we had a couple of plastic/nylon fold-up chairs that were inside nylon "quivers" which we had slung on our shoulders...With my backpack, I felt like we almost looked like a couple of carefree young wanderlust-ers out to "see America", or something... I had my first "Keno sighting" early on after my arrival ( when I passed him in the hall - although I still don't know if it was Leigh or Leslie - on my way to the coffee-stand...I got pretty excited, and blurted out either: "Keno, Hey!" or "Hey, Keno!" He was busy talking on his cell phone, but he still acknowledged me with a gesture { a polite gesture, that is } ) That was one of the highlights of the day... I can't say it all went downhill after that, but what followed was a 99% a great deal of standing in line, ( although towards the end we also sat in our chairs sometimes, also usually while waiting in line ) == I wish there had been a way for me to whip out my sketchbook ( I had brought it along ) and done some quick sketching while all this was going on, but I never got the chance to do that... Our painting/drawing garnered a great deal of attention but mostly from other people who had brought their own items, and not so much from the appraiser who handled our "case"...Of course, they have to work fast ( in most cases ) as everyone who gets in is guaranteed to all the items they have brought with them ( each person is allowed two "items", although the definition of an item can be stretched to include collections as an item, it appears ) to be appraised before the day is over...Anyway, the appraiser said they all thought our drawing was "fun", but it didn't require any camera time, even as only an item of curiosity or interest, without mention of any kind of value... But then, like I mentioned before, it got plenty of "exposure" on the floor, anyway - from other people - & at least several people came up and asked about it and made comments & so forth...There was even someone who said he knew that artwork, and that it had been painted by his Art teacher in junior high school, and that he had been the one who had donated to that White Elephant Sale before ( where we, in turn, had found it )....I'm still a little confused, because the style of the drawing to me looks "older" ( early 20th Century ) & there seemed to be a date on there that confirmed that - But this guy left us his card - I may contact him & ask for further clarification... Anyway, we also found out that my mother-in-law's old guitar ( which had played when she was a teenager ) was a "Kay" guitar, made in the 1930's, most likely...not highly valuable, but unique for its rather unusual shape ) And that my grandfather's pocket watch was a Montgomery Wards "Dollar Watch" ( hardly "valuable" at all, except as a "keepsake", which is what it is to me, anyway ) We recognized many of the appraisers, we saw a couple of "high ticket item" presentations in the process of being filmed for the show - we had a few conversations with other attendees, & then we were still there after the show had closed up ( there was a big round of cheers & applause from inside the rooms when someone announced that "That's a wrap!", or something along those lines ) And we were still out in the hallway/foyer trying to gather our stuff together for the journey home when we saw a small flock of appraisers pass by on their way out of the building... Most likely very tired at the end of a long day... And, man, were we ever tired, ourselves! We had not too much sleep the night before, and I was aching all over by the end of the day, my mind was fried, and I longed to be homeward bound...So, another "Light Rail" ride, another train ride ( this time, up the Peninsula on a Caltrain train ) up to San Francisco, another "Light Rail" ride there, to get to BART - then a ride on BART, & finally a taxi-ride home from a BART station... Woooooooorrrrrrrrrrrn Ooooooooooooout!!! ===
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 18, 2009 6:16:25 GMT -6
Ardo:
It sounds like quite an adventure. I have never thought to take anything of mine to get it appraised and/or auctioned off. I don't think I really have anything worth much anyway. Certainly not my own art!
Well, now you know what your own treasures are worth. And the value is more becuase it is your own treasure and that makes it more valuable than what those appraisers say.
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Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Aug 18, 2009 17:07:07 GMT -6
Freddie!! Very risqué!! I had some trouble hearing everything because my hubby had the tv on while I was listening. But he heard some of it and wanted to know what I was listening to! Yes, sorry about that. I didn't feel it was necessary to get that crude with the humor. We could have had a wider audience if they'd reigned it in a bit. I guess my friends just didn't want to censor themselves though.
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Post by Ardo Whortleberry on Aug 19, 2009 4:14:05 GMT -6
* * * Ardo: The link took me to the other post, however, I meant you should highlight the text of what you wrote, copy it, and then paste it in this forum. You can keep two windows open on the desktop to do that. Like this: [ body of letter ] No, I understood what you were suggesting that I could try to do, but I wasn't able to do it - I couldn't understand ( for instance ) why the "Copy; Paste" controls on my toolbar were "inactive" - but I see know that after you highlight something, they become "active" - I am still a very slow learner when it comes to Cyber- World navigation... Sorry my story was so long-winded... I guess at the back of our minds there might have been the faint hope that we might "hit the jackpot" with one of our items, ( in the same way one feels when one buys a lottery ticket ) but at the same time I never felt like we owned anything highly "valuble" ( in the monetary sense ) - We may have had hopes for that guitar, but mainly because my wife's mother had always been threatening to "throw that old thing out" [ with the next neighborhood "bulky waste pickup" ] saying it was a worthless piece of junk, whereas we knew it had to be worth something.... It's too bad we didn't just take it somewhere to be appraised years ago, ( or have been able to go to a "Roadshow" with it ) so we could have proved to her then that, yes, that old guitar really was worth some money, after all... ( and also to give her a big surprise, that way! ) == But I never really felt like we ever had anything extremely ( or even moderately ) valuable lying around the house, either ... I wouldn't mind if my own artwork came to be regarded as "valuable", someday in the future, But I would rather just feel sastified in my own mind that I had created somethings worthwhile, ( and true to my own "inner vision" ) == ( By the way, I hope I didn't confuse you with my tediously long story, where you might of thought that we brought an artwork that I had created myself ) I did sort of had a slightly cynical and sad feeling towards the end of the day there, sensing how many people had brought things that they secretly hoped would turn out to be rare & valuable,[ or at least highly unique ] and then got their little hopes & dreams shredded up in a matter of minutes ( or seconds ) by the appraisers and their pronouncements... The main thing was just to have fun & be able to participate in ( and "be in on" ) this TV show which we had been avid watchers of for many years now... And, yes, I agree with you completely with what you said, that: "....the value is more because it is your own treasure, and that makes it more valuable than what those appraisers say..." Very wise words, indeed! ~~~ P.S. = I think what we have around this house are more "mathoms", as opposed to "treasures", anyway --
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