Besides the fact that I'm obsessed with Greek Mythology and have included Eos in my comic, this day always makes me think of Eostre from Neil Gaiman's American Gods. All rosy, plump, and eating her bounty in San Francisco. :)
Hooray, it's my favorite time! Time to figure out a new diet plan, and figure out how to mesh it into my life! Woo hoop!
For those of you who are unfamiliar (you lucky ones) with my diet struggles, you can check out my journey so far by going here. Basically, I have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), which I only just discovered last year. No idea how long I've had it for or what initially caused it, although some creepy research out there suggests long years of birth control usage could weaken the gut and make it more possible. Really, contraception? Way to bitch slap me for 16 years of loyalty. So what SIBO does is basically make it hard for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs and forces it to react to certain foods badly in an attempt to keep the bacteria growing. It's disgusting, I'm sorry to put you through its description.
ANYWAY, since SIBO's my new BFF, I've been spending a bit of my life lately trying out various diets, taking repeated breath tests, and visiting a series of nutritionists and gastroentrologists. It hasn't been fun, although it has been weirdly educational (who knew I'm now allergic to cantalope, one of my fave childhood foods?) and definitely opened my eyes to the struggles of the food allergy sufferers out there. Turns out, some people can be just as hostile to a person for avoiding certain foods (diary, soy, gluten) as they were when I first decided to become a vegetarian. It's weird having to defend why you don't eat bread to someone who is clearly offended by the mere idea. Just because I'm not eating the bread doesn't mean YOU DON'T GET TO EAT THE BREAD. I'll be over here with my gluten-free slice of emptiness. I'm fine, leave me alone.
So on to the diets I've been trying. When I first visited my nutritionist, she put me on a gluten/dairy/soy free diet of nightmares that shocked me to my core, since up until that point ALL I was eating was soy, dairy, and gluten (bread, cheese, and fake meat - nectar of the gods!). She even took away my cheese for a time. I don't think I have to describe to you how dark that period of my life was. I immediately lost weight because I had no idea what to eat. Basically, I had to become an adult, try new things, and cook a lot more recipes. Next I moved on to the Low-FODMAPs diet and spent months trying to both make sense of what I could and couldn't eat and explain it to others. It's a lot harder when you suddenly have to keep accessing a spreadsheet on your iPhone of your allowed foods. While on this diet I tried a couple rounds of herb protocols to wipe out the SIBO (which didn't work) and finally an antibiotic for 30 days which started to make me feel like a whole human again. It actually helped, yippee!
. . . But of course it didn't rid me of SIBO entirely. So faced with going back to my FODMAPs-free diet, I started to get angry and frustrated, since it seemed like the diet alone was only making things worse. Breath test after test, herbs or no, the SIBO had been worsening. So why the crap should I keep avoiding apples and pears if it doesn't matter?? I went rogue with my own research (which I don't suggest, especially if you're as awful at research as I am) and discovered some support groups where people told me the only thing which helped them eradicate SIBO was the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, established wayyyy back in the good ol' 1980's. In looking into it, it was simpler, easier to understand, and very much resembled the latest fad Paleo Diet, which meant there was a slew of great recipe blogs and resources out there.
So now, with a whole NEW mess of rules, a new spreadsheet to put on my iphone, and more food fears to tackle (guys, I really hate cooked veggies), I'm ready for GUT WAR PART 3. Do I have any fellow SIBO sufferers out there who want to share their tales of woe? How about SCD-ers? Also, you Paleo people out there - which are your favorite blogs?
Even though my 13-year-old cousin thinks that lately OUAT has fallen off the wagon and isn't "doing enough fairy tale stuff", I for one am impressed/relieved that the show seems to have gotten its mojo back.
I admit, I initially approached the show with a lot of suspicion. I watched the first season, mildly amused and confused at all the weird relatives from other dimensions and wondering when these little insecure weirdos would get their memory back and realize they really were *gasp* princes and princesses. I tolerated the Snow White/Prince Charming storyline mainly because I loved the juxtaposition of the romantic past of the perfect couple compared to the desperate school teacher / philandering husband stealing glances in the present. Unfortunately, though, that and other ironic storylines were cut short when the curse that left everyone in Storybrooke without memory of their previous glory (and cricketness) vanished and suddenly all of us viewers were hit with exactly how drab and boring fairy tale characters would be IF they WERE really in the modern world. Suddenly everything was dramatic and overacted and Snow/Charming made my skin crawl just by looking at eachother. Making out in a room adjacent to their daughter/grandson who are just trying to make a decent meal? NO!! Not cute!
For a while I kept watching just so my friend and I could discuss how ridiculous the outfits were that Belle had to wear to go hunting.
Or wish that one of the few decent actors on the show, i.e. the Mad Hatter, wouldn't have left.
I wasn't sure how long I was going to last. I started lagging a couple episodes behind. I avoided broaching the topic of the show with my friend, just to hear her sigh heavily and say "it's going okay, I guess". I had kind of given up. But then, one afternoon in desperation while prepping for a comic show, I needed episodes to put on the background while I stapled and put together book after book. So I turned on some good old cheese-a-riffic Once Upon A Time.
I have to say it was the moment when Captain Hook punched out Prince Charming that won me back. And now all of a sudden there are surprises and real consequences! Buffy-esque moments of surprise when characters get shot and lose their memory! People who are pure of heart realizing how lame that is! I'm not sure if I'm completely sold yet, but with the last episode featuring Queen Regina in an especially creepy new light (reminding me of nightmares I'd have as a kid of witches craving children to steal) I'm delightfully intrigued enough to keep watching. Now, if they just brought back Graham and his impossibly tight vests, I'd be all in.
For my friend's birthday, I made sketches of some Game of Thrones characters ...
And then put them on a t-shirt with her nicknames for the characters.
She thinks the way Jon Snow says "pups" is funny, that Melisandre is the hottest woman on the planet, and for some reason still isn't won over by Peter Dinklage, becuase she claims he always used to play jerks so she hasn't gotten over that yet. Don't worry, we'll win her over to Team Tyrion soon ...
This is how I feel, learning that I have to swap my first low-FODMAPs crazy-pants diet for a NEW crazy-pants diet ...
Oh well, out with the FODMAPs, in with the Specific Carbohydrates Diet! I'll let you know how this goes.
After a whirlwind trip to the west coast for some Seattle lovin' at Emerald City Comicon, I've returned! Here's some stuff I did . . .
First and foremost:
Met my all-time favorite comic book idols ... Wendy & Richard Pini, creators of ElfQuest!! ElfQuest just happens to be THE comic that got me into comics, after a friend handed me her parents' copy while I was getting my hair dyed black in her basement. After that, it was all over. Suddenly I was seeking out comic book shops and doodling as many versions of the Pini's beloved elves as I could on book covers and sketchbooks everywhere. I've re-read the main series several times over the years, and was beyond thrilled to hear they're continuing it as a webcomic on BoingBoing, updated every Monday. You can find all the comics in their digital library here, and apparently uber-cute t-shirts here! I just ordered this one. Yep.
So beyond being blown away by sitting close to my comic book heroes, here are some of the other swell peeps I got to chat with:
I didn't get to spend nearly enough time in Seattle or hiking up its hills (seriously, I was shocked it was all San Francisco with its hilly streets), so I'll definitely be headed back soon! And maybe to look at something other than the inside of a convention center. Maybe.
I almost got some Bonnie and Gods comics up for you guys before I left, but sadly ran out of time during the inking phase. Curses! But that just means double double updates next week!
And just a reminder for all you peeps attending Emerald City Comicon this weekend, I'll be chillin at table E-11! ;) Come by and I guarantee you'll get to see me shoving food into my face. Because that's what I always seem to be doing when people come up to talk to me at cons.
Hey guys! There's a fun talk going on at Atomic Books tonight, you should come on out and join us!
Hey y'all ... this week might be a little lapsed in updating Bonnie and Gods & Undergrads. Last weekend I had to go on a sudden trip out of town for a funeral, so things are dragging a wee bit behind. It was definitely a weekend full of appreciating loved ones. Go out and hug yours today!
And here's what I have to say about the weather in Maine:
Hey y'all ... this week might be a little lapsed in updating Bonnie and Gods & Undergrads. Last weekend I had to go on a sudden trip out of town for a funeral, so things are dragging a wee bit behind. It was definitely a weekend full of appreciating loved ones. Go out and hug yours today!
And here's what I have to say about the weather in Maine:
Hey y'all ... this week might be a little lapsed in updating Bonnie and Gods & Undergrads. Last weekend I had to go on a sudden trip out of town for a funeral, so things are dragging a wee bit behind. It was definitely a weekend full of appreciating loved ones. Go out and hug yours today!
And here's what I have to say about the weather in Maine:
Here we go, here we go, on our way to Shangri-La! (Yes, that is a Clutch reference. Shout out to all the Marylanders out there.). I'm just all excited because it's about to be convention season all up in here!
Normally I kick off the season in March with Staple, but sadly I won't be at that beloved convention this year. Instead I'm flying out to the rainy, greeny Seattle for Emerald City Comicon. I've been DYING to go to Seattle since I realized I have a penchant for rainy weather and I first saw an episode of Frasier. I can't wait to see what this convention is all about. Going to a new convention is like getting to know a new friend - at first you're not quite sure how things will go. Will they be fun to be around? Comfortable? Respect your personal space? Full of energy? Smelly? All of these things are important going in. True, I've never had a really BAD con experience (although some have involved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, stage fright, and one cartoonist being forced to sing the opening score to Star Trek) and I always enjoy the chance to get to know a new one, but you neeeever know if they'll fit in to your lexicon of Cons You're In Love With.
But for now, it's prep time! First, I've finally gotten around to publishing my next two Bonnie N. Collide books - that's #5 and #6!
Now complete with tiny recaps in the beginning, so you'll have a hankering on what's happened so far. Or, you could just get the 2nd Bonnie N. Collide Triple Pack, compiling books #4 - #6 and read for yourself!
Speaking of triple packs, I've combined three of my autobiographical comics into this cute little number:
This cute little pack combines my books Middle School, When I Was A Mall Model, and Go For the Eyes in one sweet little set. I don't know what it is about streamlined packaging that really gets me, but I LOVE it. Therefore, I keep repackaging my books over and over. It's a thing with me.
For Emerald City I've also got some new prints lined up, and as per usual I'll be doing pencil and inked sketches at the show. I'll be at table E-11 in Artist Alley, as well as at the Oni Booth at some point signing some Glitter Kiss's. Come on out and say hello! And if you're a Rat City rollergirl, come on out and get a free sketch with purchase! :)
OH and this will all be available in my Store and Etsy Shop post-convention!
I have no idea why Doubt wears a hat.
Inspired by this week's Downton Abbey ...
Inspired by this week's Downton Abbey ...
With Emerald City Comic Con looming on the horizon with its greeny glow, I've finally posted a collection of sketches I’ve done for lovely peeps at conventions over the years! Head over here to my Portfolio Section to check 'em out!
Here's just one of many ...
With Emerald City Comic Con looming on the horizon with its greeny glow, I've finally posted a collection of sketches I’ve done for lovely peeps at conventions over the years! Head over here to my Portfolio Section to check 'em out!
Here's just one of many ...
Monica Gallagher is a comic book creator, illustrator and freelance designer making work for hire with a positive, feminist spin.
TCAF - Toronto, ON, Canada // June 7 - 8
Heroes Con - Charlotte, NC // June 20 - 22
Tucson Comic Con - Tucson, AZ // Aug. 29 - 31
Small Press Expo - Rockville, MD // Sep. 13 - 14
Denton Comic Art Expo - Denton, TX // Sep. 27
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