This last April, Shirlee and I went to see her Mom, just as we do every year! This year wasn't as eventful as 2003, which is good.. but it was fun! ^_^

Us trying to take care of Shirlee's Mom. In theory, sure. In reality..?

Did I mention that she hugs us a lot? :)

We had trouble showering upstairs though. (That was about the only odd thing.)

Mom didn't feel having fixed was necessary. Which is cool, of course!

Shower with a friend. Or relative. ^_^

She's the Mom I wish I had. (I mean, when I was growing up...)

Another visit, another wondrous experience!

"15 scans your mother warned you about"? How appropriate! :)
What about mothers-in-law? Because that's who this story is
about! Here is Page 1 of a comic that started as a few
drawings done during the period recounted in the story,
that is, my fiance and I visiting my future mom-in-law to
look after her whilst she had a medical checkup, and which,
mostly due to the fact that she adored seeing herself in the
story (she was so taken by Mrs. Mayor in my comic that I've
made it her character) but partly also to try out the gift
of a Truetype font made from my lettering that a fan sent
me. Figured, to save time, that I'd give it a workout here.
It probably needn't be said, but this incident really did
happen. I really wish Shirlee's mom was my real one, she is
an angel hiding her wings. Read on and see for yourself. ^_^

Page 2 of the comic about Shirlee and I's visit. Her Mom is
completely cool about us... the only requirement she made is
that I "always do the honorable thing" by Shirlee. And she
knows I will, so... ^_^

Page 3 of the story. One of those things that you can look
back on and chuckle a little, but when it was happening, it
was quite a bit more serious...

Page 4 of the story. She probably shouldn't have taken a
bath, but she said she felt okay... O_O

Page 5. You had to hear her voice. I was almost in tears.

Fortunately, she felt a lot better very soon.

Page 6 of my comic story of this occurence. I give you my
word, Shirlee's mom said I could say this in my recounting
of what happened! I mean, I'd already figured out that it
was "like Mother, like Daughter", but, well... one doesn't
doesn't usually find out it goes to *this* degree. Or get
to say so if one does. I made the observation rather, um,
self-conciously. Shirlee's mom didn't mind! She's so sweet.
:)

Page 7 of the story. ^_^

Page 8 of my comic story. I didn't know this about Shirlee
until last week.

Did I mention that I think her mom is a wonderful lady? :)

Page 9 of the story of Shirlee and I's visit to her mom. :)
I may do this over in color, and with hand-lettering (I do
appreciate my friend making a Truetype font of my lettering,
but I dunno - computer fonts still seem lifeless to me. They
DO save a lot of time, though!) But this occurence was very
special and happy for me, so I'm sharing this version with
everyone. I hope you like it! (Copyrights on pic)

Every so often the charming colorist Ruthe surprises me with
a wonderful gift image out of the blue. She has rendered my
B&W image of myself and Shirlee and her Mom, and it is, as
all the other work she does, fantastic! Thanks much Ruthe!

("15 scans your mother warned you about" naturally!)

A couple more of the pics that Shirlee and I send each other. Shirlee is twirly! :)

Like everyone else in the US, I've been aware of what happened out on the East Coast on Tuesday the 11th, and like a lot of people I've run the gamut of emotions. Ultimately, the thing that had moved me the most was the feeling of pure, unmovable resolve - that no matter how insane these terrorist shits get, the notion of taking down America is not only ludicrious, it's the clearest evidence yet of just how insane they are. On the news today they were ALREADY talking about rebuilding the towers! To which I felt a satisfied "So what else is new" reaction. Though it probably isn't structurally feasible, I immediately thought they should put up *three* towers, one twice as high as the others, and between the others. Subtle it ain't.

Just a comic little joke pic for a friend. :)

Just recently I got a pic request from Tet, and in the course of the e-mails I mentioned one of the pics I love to draw of the furs I think are very wonderful - but of a category I'd *NEVER* post anywhere without permission - I just like to draw them. :) Tet asked to see it and he and Trixi gave
their permission. Without which I wouldn't have shown it, I would never assume it was okay. So here it is. I personally like it a lot - they are a beautiful couple. :)

This is one of my experiments with that category of creatures which I seem to have the worst luck with: avians. I'm not sure if I achieved what I was after... I honestly can't tell if the suave raptor is an honest type attempting to extol his virtues to the guileless parakeet babe, or whether he's a smooth-squawking villain attempting to lead her down the primrose path. I guess I'll leave it up to the viewer...

It probably doesn't show much, but I was experimenting with some brush pens (kinda cheap ones, didn't like 'em) on this old sketch of Victor Timm. Didn't finish it, and forgot about it. Came across it recently, judged it salvagable, and did. It *does* let everyone know The World's Unluckiest Possum has knobby knees :).