Magic Bullet #5

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Hey everyone!

The latest issue of Magic Bullet, the DC metro area comics newspaper (chock full of Maryland and DC area artists) is coming out tomorrow at Big Planet Comics in College Park, Maryland! Spearheaded by Matt Dembicki, Rafer Roberts, and Andrew Cohen, the latest issue has an "end of the world" theme and looks like it'll be pretty fan-frickin-tastic.

 

Here's a sneak peek of my contribution:

 

Keep a lookout for it - it'll be in stores tomorrow! And while you're at it, check out XOC: The Journey of a Great White, Matt's book which has just been released from Oni Press! It'll get you prepped for Shark Week! Mmm ... shark week ...

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Magic Bullet #5

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Hey everyone!

The latest issue of Magic Bullet, the DC metro area comics newspaper (chock full of Maryland and DC area artists) is coming out tomorrow at Big Planet Comics in College Park, Maryland! Spearheaded by Matt Dembicki, Rafer Roberts, and Andrew Cohen, the latest issue has an "end of the world" theme and looks like it'll be pretty fan-frickin-tastic.

 

Here's a sneak peek of my contribution:

 

Keep a lookout for it - it'll be in stores tomorrow! And while you're at it, check out XOC: The Journey of a Great White, Matt's book which has just been released from Oni Press! It'll get you prepped for Shark Week! Mmm ... shark week ...

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FODMAPs Folly

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SIIIIGGGGGHHHHH.

So I finished my "30 days of herbs + FODMAPs diet" sentence and? . . . Not feeling all that great.

I can say there were a few slip-ups here and there (a wedding with cheese readily available) and I wasn't too great with making 1/2 of each meal into vegetables, as my nutritionist ordered. But all in all I think I followed it pretty well (I MISS YOU GARLIC AND ONIONS), so what's the deal? Well apparently I have to make an appointment to take another breath test and find out. Le woe. My question is: what do I do in the meantime? I'm sure if I asked my nutritionist she'd say to stay on FODMAPs and keep avoiding all cheese (she's a dairy hater) until I figured out what's what.

But since that month made me feel worse I'm kind of of the opinion that I'm going to at least start eating FODMAP-friendly cheese again ... and if it takes months to get re-tested, get my results back, and see my gastroentrologist again ...

I can't promise what I'll be eating by then.

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New Bonnie N. Collide Strip

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Woo! 99 strips done! You may be asking why it's not 112, like it says on my site page. That's because I'm counting the ones that just I did, not taking credit for the gorgeous Tim Fish strips. Which you can read starting here!

I also wanted to let you guys know that since I'm (still) in the process of revamping my whole website, once that's complete I'll be adding an archives page and a character page to this strip. I know not having an archive page has been a headache for some of you guys, so thanks for your patience with me! I promise it'll be worth the wait!

New site's pending arrival? I'm gonna sayyyyy ... mid-August. THERE, I SAID IT. ... (now I have to do it by then! Eep!)

New Bonnie N. Collide Strip

/

Woo! 99 strips done! You may be asking why it's not 112, like it says on my site page. That's because I'm counting the ones that just I did, not taking credit for the gorgeous Tim Fish strips. Which you can read starting here!

I also wanted to let you guys know that since I'm (still) in the process of revamping my whole website, once that's complete I'll be adding an archives page and a character page to this strip. I know not having an archive page has been a headache for some of you guys, so thanks for your patience with me! I promise it'll be worth the wait!

New site's pending arrival? I'm gonna sayyyyy ... mid-August. THERE, I SAID IT. ... (now I have to do it by then! Eep!)

New Bonnie N. Collide Strip

/

Woo! 99 strips done! You may be asking why it's not 112, like it says on my site page. That's because I'm counting the ones that just I did, not taking credit for the gorgeous Tim Fish strips. Which you can read starting here!

I also wanted to let you guys know that since I'm (still) in the process of revamping my whole website, once that's complete I'll be adding an archives page and a character page to this strip. I know not having an archive page has been a headache for some of you guys, so thanks for your patience with me! I promise it'll be worth the wait!

New site's pending arrival? I'm gonna sayyyyy ... mid-August. THERE, I SAID IT. ... (now I have to do it by then! Eep!)

I Prefer Awkward

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Recently my boyfriend and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary awkward-style: by going to a B&B.

For those of you not in the know, B&B's stand for Bed and Breakfast, and are the perfect culmination of everything you could find terrifying about going on a vacation. That, instead of going to a nice, private, secluded hotel where no one bothers you unless you ask them to, you go to stay with one of your relatives. A relative so distant that you don't know them at all, and you pad around their house and sleep in one of their beds and have them wait on you and serve you breakfast. Any small talk you manage to make is extremely forced, and you can't help but notice that each night they are sleeping under the same roof as you. Shoes must be worn at all times, especially when venturing out of your room (terrifying) in the middle of the night to get a glass of water or (horrors!) use the bathroom. Yes, you are paying to feel uncomfortable in someone else's home.

I've managed to survive many years of B&B's with just this simple mantra: Bring on the awkward. My parents introduced my brother and I to B&B's by throwing us headfirst into a series of them while we were vacationing in Scotland. I was 19, my brother was 22. We were completely foreign to the concept of inviting ourselves over to another family's house and forcing them to make room for us. In Scotland we experienced the full range - from a big B&B complete with unlimited, hotel-esque breakfast ... to the one place you could stay on a tiny island where "my mother's ancestors came from" and based on the icy welcome we received, my brother and I stayed up the whole night waiting to be stabbed. Luckily all the B&B's in between (we were there for a while and my parents liked to jump to a new place every night) were amazing, and the Scots proved to be incredibly warm, generous hosts.

But I digress. Here's why I've come to love B&B's:

  • It's just fun to get away. Yes, even if sometimes it's weird sneaking around someone else's house, it's fun to be a part of that house's history for a blip in time. Most B&B's I prefer are older and creekier, which adds to the fun.
  • I like thinking of them as haunted, as long as they're not actually being haunted. If there are more than a specific number of dolls around (i.e. one) you should probably rethink your stay. Just saying. Wood carved cherubs are okay though.
  • Some of them are suprisingly gorgeous, and worth any amount of time you feel obligated to hang out in the hallway and make small talk with your host. We once stayed at the 1890 Caroline House in Fredericksburg, VA and got our own private suite - complete with a HUGE tub, a fireplace spanning two rooms, and a comfy sitting room. Although, I have to admit, my favorite part was each morning when the hostess brought out a series of elaborate, lovely meals full of food my boyfriend didn't eat. Every time she left the room he'd hiss "TAKE THESE STRAWBERRIES!!", all panicky. Good times.
  • Embracing the local history of the place you're in, even if it's just up the road, is part of the point. And you get to be as cheesy exploring that place as you want - strap on the fanny pack, attach a cell phone to your belt.
  • Chatting with other couples/not making new friends. Remember when you're B&B'ing it, you have permission to not be yourself, and to say things you'd never normally say. "This crepe is divine!" "I can honestly say I love this wicker!" "Where did you find that statue of a boy peeing?" And by all means, be pleasant with the locals/hosts/other guests. Just ... y'know, remember when you get back home you might realize you really don't like talking about golf, and that was the one thing you had in common with that couple.

If I had to stress out about whether or not I'd feel comfortable at a particular B&B or naturally click with the host/ess, I'd never go! And I would've missed out on waking up one fine autumn morning, in the attic bedroom of a large old house, heading downstairs expecting breakfast and encountering instead ... PILES OF DOLLS.

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I Prefer Awkward

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Recently my boyfriend and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary awkward-style: by going to a B&B.

For those of you not in the know, B&B's stand for Bed and Breakfast, and are the perfect culmination of everything you could find terrifying about going on a vacation. That, instead of going to a nice, private, secluded hotel where no one bothers you unless you ask them to, you go to stay with one of your relatives. A relative so distant that you don't know them at all, and you pad around their house and sleep in one of their beds and have them wait on you and serve you breakfast. Any small talk you manage to make is extremely forced, and you can't help but notice that each night they are sleeping under the same roof as you. Shoes must be worn at all times, especially when venturing out of your room (terrifying) in the middle of the night to get a glass of water or (horrors!) use the bathroom. Yes, you are paying to feel uncomfortable in someone else's home.

I've managed to survive many years of B&B's with just this simple mantra: Bring on the awkward. My parents introduced my brother and I to B&B's by throwing us headfirst into a series of them while we were vacationing in Scotland. I was 19, my brother was 22. We were completely foreign to the concept of inviting ourselves over to another family's house and forcing them to make room for us. In Scotland we experienced the full range - from a big B&B complete with unlimited, hotel-esque breakfast ... to the one place you could stay on a tiny island where "my mother's ancestors came from" and based on the icy welcome we received, my brother and I stayed up the whole night waiting to be stabbed. Luckily all the B&B's in between (we were there for a while and my parents liked to jump to a new place every night) were amazing, and the Scots proved to be incredibly warm, generous hosts.

But I digress. Here's why I've come to love B&B's:

  • It's just fun to get away. Yes, even if sometimes it's weird sneaking around someone else's house, it's fun to be a part of that house's history for a blip in time. Most B&B's I prefer are older and creekier, which adds to the fun.
  • I like thinking of them as haunted, as long as they're not actually being haunted. If there are more than a specific number of dolls around (i.e. one) you should probably rethink your stay. Just saying. Wood carved cherubs are okay though.
  • Some of them are suprisingly gorgeous, and worth any amount of time you feel obligated to hang out in the hallway and make small talk with your host. We once stayed at the 1890 Caroline House in Fredericksburg, VA and got our own private suite - complete with a HUGE tub, a fireplace spanning two rooms, and a comfy sitting room. Although, I have to admit, my favorite part was each morning when the hostess brought out a series of elaborate, lovely meals full of food my boyfriend didn't eat. Every time she left the room he'd hiss "TAKE THESE STRAWBERRIES!!", all panicky. Good times.
  • Embracing the local history of the place you're in, even if it's just up the road, is part of the point. And you get to be as cheesy exploring that place as you want - strap on the fanny pack, attach a cell phone to your belt.
  • Chatting with other couples/not making new friends. Remember when you're B&B'ing it, you have permission to not be yourself, and to say things you'd never normally say. "This crepe is divine!" "I can honestly say I love this wicker!" "Where did you find that statue of a boy peeing?" And by all means, be pleasant with the locals/hosts/other guests. Just ... y'know, remember when you get back home you might realize you really don't like talking about golf, and that was the one thing you had in common with that couple.

If I had to stress out about whether or not I'd feel comfortable at a particular B&B or naturally click with the host/ess, I'd never go! And I would've missed out on waking up one fine autumn morning, in the attic bedroom of a large old house, heading downstairs expecting breakfast and encountering instead ... PILES OF DOLLS.

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ACH! Brave was Ach-mazing!

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I mean, it's Pixar.

So I knew no matter what, Brave would have me amazed, entertained, snort with laughter at some point, and possibly be crying by the end. But because everybody lately is PRINCESS CRAZY, either Team Princess or Team Grow Up, I was interested to see what their take on a Scottish princess would be. I went in with only a vague idea of what it was about - Scotland, princess, big gorgeous hair, archery, PIXAR.

(Spoilers from this point on! Stop reading lest ye be spoiled!)

(Seriously! It was fun not having the plot ruined for me ahead of time!)

At first, the movie seemed to follow a familiar flow:

  • Young princess is a tomboy
  • Young princess likes shooting arrows and riding around on her horse
  • Young princess does not like dresses, lessons, manners, or anything having to do with her mother (the Queen's) work.

Already, though, Pixar was beginning to weave its unique magic: Despite a horrifying big bear encounter in the opening scene, BOTH parents of the princess lived (if this had been Disney, Queen Mom so would've had a big fat target on her head). The princess grows up with a good relationship to both her parents and her younger mischievous triplet brothers. She escapes off into the woods whatever chance she gets, AND ... there is no singing. I mean, there's a soundtrack, we need some feel good Scottish music getting our blood pumping, but the princess herself doesn't utter a word of song. Incredible! At first I couldn't place my finger on what was missing, but then I got it. No forced song about how unfortunate her position is and how her destiny is oppressing her. Just Princess Merida, romping through the forest, nailing every archery target she sees, and then casually scaling a dangerous cliff in a dress. Y'know, princess stuff.

ac

After Merida is confronted with the fate of being a princess - i.e. picking a suitor from a neighboring clan to marry and solidify the kingdom's relationship with its clans, yadda yadda, the story takes a really incredible turn. Not only does Merida put herself into the archery contest (to win her own hand at marriage), but when that doesn't work she seeks out some witchy aid to help her parents see clearly. I thought it was telling of the strong relationship she had with her parents that she didn't want the witch to help her run away from home, or create some suitor she would actually like, or turn her into a boy so she didn't have to go through this. No, she simply wanted the witch to magically knock some sense into her mom so she would let her live her life the way she wanted to.

Well of course, that backfires (even I know better than to eat something a witch magicked up for me). And instead of getting her mom to walk in her shoes, she gets her mom to walk in bear shoes. Er, bear feet. Bear claws? The point is she turns her mom into a bear!!  Or, to quote Spike:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxcqJ4FUsK0]

For the rest of the movie, mother and daughter have to work as a team to get her mom back to normal (and keep the bear-killing kingdom unaware of the sitch), everything hinging on how well they can get along. Such a brilliant twist - using a mother/daughter relationship as the main driving force behind a story. Brilliant! (And terrifying, knowing the temper my mom and I share.)

I'm ashamed to admit at one point I really expected a guy to come along and turn Merida's head, and be the suitor she was hoping for. Why? I guess because that's what I'm ALWAYS used to seeing when there's a princess involved. Unhappy princess, supposed to be wed to some ugly suitor? Well just go off singing in the forest, I'm sure the perfect guy will show up!

I hate that somewhere that plotline is still ingrained in my head. Grr! Oh well, maybe if I see enough non-true love bear movies, I'll be cured of this affliction. Yay Brave! And three cheers for Scotland!

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Small Boob Awards: Sandra Bullock

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It's Small Boob Awards time again! It's not every day, but once in a blue moon I come across someone who's on my boob team, and in the spirit of keeping up with Small Boob Solidarity, I like to mention that person on my blog. It's not much in the way of accolades, I know, but I'm sure they appreciate it.

Today's entry - SANDRA BULLOCK!

I'm a Bullock fan. Way back from the days of Speed and While You Were Sleeping, I've been very loyal. I applauded her dark turn in Murder by Numbers. I cringed when I saw her go through The Proposal and All About Steve. I forced my friends to watch The Net with me.

One thing I've never thought about her was that she was on my team. And by "my team" I mean "had boobs of equivalently tiny size as me". Even though this has been a theme of hers in her movies.

"He was a lot like me. Dark hair, flat chest."

Then I was going on an obsessive Craig Ferguson binge the other week and caught some of her hilarious appearances on his show. And almost every time she kept hitting the small boob comments!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaKR0wY7rik]

So I'm not sure if that's been beaten into her over the years of Hollywood living, but regardless, I'm happy to have her on our team. Congrats, Sandra! Way to class up the joint.