Some good news: I got an office at work. My very own one, with a door and a massive window that has a view of some of the trees in Central Park and also a bit of Carnegie Hall. This is nice. After all these years of sitting in a cube in one of those employee corrals, it's pretty sweet to have some space to myself. I know that complaining about stuff like having to sit in a cube-space is the stuff of Dilbert cartoons, but seriously, that's why that cartoon is so popular, because working in a cube does suck, and people enjoy laughing about how much life sucks.

Other good news: SPX weekend is almost upon us. Aliza and I will be driving down to Bethesda tomorrow with Radtke, our pals Alex and Kristen, and Tony "The Mad Shitter" Consiglio. I've got plenty of Gabagool! #4's and #5's to sell, and I'm pretty psyched about it.

Not feeling great today. The weekend started off well, although I don't really remember what we did friday night. Saturday was spent getting ready for and going to a friend's wedding, and sunday was a barbeque with all the folks (mine and Aliza's). We got back to the city early sunday evening, and sometime between then and last night I slid into a mopey depression which I'm still feeling now. It's mainly because things aren't going great at work, but the cold, rainy, inactive Labor Day holiday probably didn't help.

Reading a fun little book about our nation's Vice-Presidents called "Bland Ambition". It gives a little bio about each one in a very humorous but still informative way. I wouldn't mind being Vice-President. Apparently you don't have to do anything at all, unless of course the president is killed or something. But aside from that, you can just coast for four years and live in the Vice-President's mansion in Washington D.C. I don't think that's what you're supposed to take from reading the book (I think we're supposed to think these were all men of low ambition - thus the clever title of the book) but I'm sorry, the way I feel right now, I don't think it would be such a bad deal.

I need to think of a Queen song that I can dance with my mother to at the wedding. It has to be Queen, I have no choice, but there are no Queen songs that are appropriate.

Maybe "Bicycle Race"...

We're going to start looking for a new apartment in December or January, doing it before the wedding would just be too much to think about. We are going to go uptown, where people act like grownups, and there aren't bags of smelly garbage in the streets, and the guy downstairs doesn't blast "Ziggy Stardust" on repeat in the small hours of the night.

Of course, I don't know what I'm talking about. I am sure that an apartment uptown will have just as many odd "extras" as any apartment in this city. I have never had an apartment yet where there wasn't some odd thing about it that I had to deal with, such as the "second room" we have now where the ceiling is too low to stand up in, or the fact that I had no doors or kitchen in my last place, or the fact that my place in Brooklyn was in what's called a "rough neighborhood". It could be worse though. A friend of mine was telling me last night about a friend he had who was shown an apartment that had no bathroom. Apparently the realtor suggested "joining the gym up the street if you want to take a shower".

The actual responsible thing to do would be to move out of Manhattan, but Aliza and I aren't quite that grown up yet. I guess one day we might move out to the Jersey suburbs like proper people and pay a reasonable rent/mortgage, but neither one of us is looking forward to that eventuality.

The new comic should be showing up any day now. If it shows up early I will have to keep that a secret, because I don't want to make myself ineligible for the "Outstanding Debut" comic at SPX.

Turns out that we are going to be staying to see the Ignatz awards afterall. This makes me happy, because I enjoy awards ceremonies, but Aliza is more wary of it because it's going to make things difficult for us the next day going to work. Oh well, so we have one sleepy day at work, that's no big deal. How often do you get to see a bunch of cartoonists sitting around a hotel convention room eating pigs in blankets and drinking. Not often enough I say!

Today at lunch I thought I would doodle in my sketchbook, which I never do. There's nowhere around that I feel comfortable doing it though. I can't go to Central Park, people will think I am just drawing to get noticed in the hopes that a girl or someone will come over and think I'm fascinating. Obviously I can't draw at my desk. They can't tell when I'm goofing off when I'm on the computer (like right now for instance) but they'd notice if I was sitting and drawing. And even if nobody gave me guff, I'd still feel like they were all thinking that I was thinking that they'd think I was fascinating or something. Makes me too self-conscious.

In the end I snuck out to the balcony on our floor and sat there for a bit. I went back in after a minute though because I was spilling my food all over the book, and besides the people in the offices across the street could all see me drawing and they probably all thought I was an asshole.

Yesterday on the subway a girl got on at 23rd street and sat next to me. She pulled a book out of her bag which has come out recently collecting all the issues of a 'zine called "Cometbus" into one tome. It struck me as such an odd thing to see somebody out in public reading some obscure 'zine. I wanted to mention to her that I had read Cometbus too (though truthfully I've only read one issue where there was a guest writer) because I thought she would also be interested to know that there were other people out there who're familiar with this stuff. I didn't of course because a) nobody wants to be talked to on a subway, b) I got off at 14th street, the next stop, and c) I'm engaged anyway so what is the point of meeting new girls? (Of course there is "d) I was scared and afraid of rejection", but "c" cancels that problem out these days. I now have a more than legitimate excuse for not talking to pretty girls that I lacked in my single days)

Anyway, the one thing that has stuck with me is that it's pretty sad that I think it's such a remarkable thing to see somebody reading a small press comic when they're not actually at a small press comics show.

I can name all of the presidents from McKinley on up and tell you how many terms they served. I know this isn't such an amazing feat, but my friend Rob didn't know things as simple as "who became president after Nixon?" or "How many terms did LBJ serve", which leads me to believe that the average citizen doesn't know that much of their own history. I'm not really any better, like I said, I can only do from Mckinley on up. I can't do any of them before that. It goes Washington - a bunch of people - Jackson - some more people - Lincoln, Johnson (I remember that because of the eerie coincidence of a Johnson following a President who gets shot in the head), -some more people - Hayes, - some people, Cleveland (I think), and then McKinley, etc...

So if you ever see me in person you can quiz me on Presidents of the 20th century and I will amaze you.

There was a blackout. Did you hear? It sucked my balls. The only thing that made me feel better about being one of the last people to get his power back was that my friend's Alex and Kristen also didn't have power the whole time either. That may sound mean, but I can guarantee they'd say the same thing about me.

If friday was the Blackout of 2003, saturday was the Big Wedding Suit Odyssey of 2003. It was a long day, but happily it ended with me getting an awesome suit and a cool shirt and tie to go along with it. It is very slim fitting though, so there isn't much room in it for me to gain weight, so I had to start running again. I don't want it to look like my pants are too tight on the day of my wedding, because then people will think I bought the suit a few years ago or something rather than specially for the big occasion.

Yesterday, amongst other things I watched a little bit of some wedding show on Lifetime, the Network for Women. It was all about three brides of different ages and their weddings. One of the brides was 30-something year old Kathy Griffith from "Suddenly Susan" and "Celebrity Mole". Being that she is a comedienne, she was being all funny the whole time. Like, when the priest asked if anyone knew any reason these two shouldn't be wed she made a big hammy angry face at the crowd and everyone laughed. Then when she said her vows she was being all funny too, like "I'm so glad I found you... 'cos God knows I looked..." and she made another face, and everyone laughed again.

I hope I am not as annoying as that on my wedding day.

I left work a little early last night because there was an Epic Heroclix Battle planned. I was very excited about it, I wrapped all my Gabagool! 5 stuff on saturday and was looking forward to some serious gaming action. And I was not disappointed. I fell asleep last night thinking of Energy Explosion combinations and adding Perplex to Long Range Combat Expert... If you don't know what I'm talking about, then there's no use explaining it, 'Clix is a world unto itself...

It was pretty intense last night though, I am okay waiting a week or so before the next round of the ongoing war we are all engaged in...

Speaking of ongoing things, I was defeated the other day in my never ending Quest to Eat the Weirdest Things I can Find On the Menu. I went to a very tasty brunch place on sunday and everyone ordered Bloody Mary's. They had all kinds of different mixes you could get, so I opted for one that came with all kinds of pickled vegetables in it. It was very strange, it had pickled brussel sprouts, turnips, green beans, everything. The people at the table next to me even leant over to peer wondrously at it and ask it's origin. Anyway, I couldn't drink it, but it was more about having vodka in the morning than all the pickled things. Not a huge deal, I know, but I felt defeated...

New interview with me and Radtke posted at this site called comicsreaders.com

I am the guy at the top of the photo in case you weren't sure. Radtke is the one at the bottom with the red shirt and red face.

Whitey at Optical Sloth reviewed the SPX anthology. He seemed to dig it. Plus he mentioned my name.

Have decided to only print 1000 copies of Gabagool! 5, even though the cost of doing 2000 is a difference of 150 dollars. I think it's unlikely that I'd sell over 1000 copies of the comic before it's time to collect it all up and make an awesome Hedo Dogs graphic novel, so why pay more and have more copies of the comic going unsold?

Did our engagement shoot last night. I tried my hardest to look casual and relaxed, but it's hard to pose in the middle of the street and not feel a little self conscious. Also: my hair is too long, and didn't look good.

Psyched to get the latest comic off to the printer tomorrow. Frees me up to relax for five minutes before coming under fire to get the invites GOCCO-ed up and sent out.

Been working on the cover for Gabagool! #5 (2).

A near complete image of it is viewable here

Productive meeting with the wedding DJ last night (www.djshakey.com). She is a nice person. We were concerned about when we should play the traditional Jewish music and when we should play the traditional Scottish music. Talking it over with the DJ cleared it all up.

We will do the Jewish stuff first. This is good because more people are going to expect it, and also it requires more physical effort on our guests behalf. I need them earlier in the night when they are still capable of hoisting me and Aliza on chairs and running us around, and then possibly doing the same to the folks. At some point there will also be the circle dance (The Hora).

I wonder how my family will do with all this? Hopefully there will be enough Jewish people there to tell them what's going on and which direction to dance around in a circle and so forth.

Then later in the night when my family has had enough to drink there will hopefully be some Scottish dancing too. I have been to weddings with my family where this has been pulled off, so I am hoping to see it at my own wedding too.

In an effort to be better prepared for this whole thing (spiritually I mean) I have finally started reading my book on The New Jewish Wedding. So far I have discovered two things:

1) There's one tradition called yichud where the bride and groom go and spend ten minutes by themselves after the ceremony. I like the sound of this a lot. I understand that we're supposed to be worrying about getting our photos done at that point, but I think that can wait a few minutes.

2) There's actually not that much that's required to be done for a wedding to actually be a legitimate Jewish wedding. I think all you really need is some witnesses and I have to give my bride a gift worth more than a dime. She has to give me something too, but I can't remember what. It might be something like she has to promise to tend my sheep or my goats or something. Or maybe that's the ketubah...

Obviously I have only started reading the book, so things are still a little sketchy...

I was a fool to not start re-numbering Gabagool! once it went legit!

Diamond has just agreed to take me on and distribute the book, but the fact that the first issue is a #4 is hurting me. Stores aren't going to want to start buying a new series on the fourth issue, and there are no issues 1 through 3 that I can sell (unless Diamind is itching to get into the mini-comics biz). There are a few options, but the whole thing has given me a massive headache.

But still, it's great news that Diamond has picked up Gabagool! If all goes smoothly there'll be a listing in the October issue of Previews, and soon after that I will be able to quit my job and make a living off of the funny-books...

If I want to get Gabagool! #5 printed up in time to take it SPX I have to have it finished by the end of next week. This is probably possible, but I am a little nervous about it. However, worrying over something like that isn't going to stop me from playing HeroClix tonight with my buddies (Chris "Gabagool!" Radtke, Alex "Box Office Poison" Robinson, and Dave "Eep" Mazure - check out all their fine comics, I endorse them all). I can't not play, I still haven't used the promotional Superman that Aliza picked up for me at the Wizard offices.

I spent this past weekend in a remote cabin at a bachelor party of a friend of mine. The best thing we did: Paintball. It was so awesome. But hard work too. I am in reasonably good shape, but I was sweating and out of breath the whole time. Also, the paintball pellets hurt, and I have two large yellow bruises on my leg now from the game.

I told my pal Gary "Gazbot" Gretsky about the game. He is a player, and has been trying to get me to play in the past. I could see wheels turning in his head as he asked me whether or not I would like my own paintball gun. I'm taking this to mean he's thinking it might make a good wedding gift. I think it would be a swell gift. Aliza on the other hand... didn't really seem to appreciate the concept in the same way that I do... I think the bruises on my body look sexy, like I am some kind of warrior. She doesn't get it though, she just makes dissaproving sounds and forces me to rub cream on them before I go to bed at night.

I ate a real jellyfish last night. The whole thing. It was kind of gross, but I wanted to prove that I could do it.

Aliza had a jumbo shrimp that not only wasn't cooked, but had it's still alive severed head sitting next to it's body on her plate. She had to make the waitress take the twitching head away. Ugh, that was stomach turning.

For dessert we went to a place up the street and I had a cream puff and felt better.

The SPX anthology came out yesterday. I was so excited about it two weeks ago, but when I got to the store my enthusiasm faded. I think it was because they only had one copy available. I preferred the idea of someone else buying it than me taking it home just to look at my story again, so I left the store without it.

I'll get it another week, I am sure that they'll order more.

Instead I got Blankets and am working my way through it. I think it is very well crafted. I'll have to finish it up and digest it a bit though before I can determine my final thoughts on it.

Aliza had a meeting with Wizard magazine yesterday for non-comics related purposes. She just talked me up the whole time and gave them copies of my comics. She's so great. In return they gave her a promotional Superman heroclix toy.

Aliza recently discovered a site called "Fresh Direct", where you can order your groceries online and have them delivered to your apartment. It's really great and convenient because they come whenever's best for you, so we've been having them come late at night, so we can be home with no hassles. Our last order got screwed up though (our fault) and we ended up with 12 giant bottles of water, 3 six packs of soda, and 3 cartons of milk. The milk is the worrisome one, 'cos how am I supposed to drink all that milk before it goes bad? I don't wake up in time to have any coffee or cereal in the morning, and I can't run home at lunchtime to drink some milk. My only option is to eat a lot of cereal for dinner, which is okay with me, because that's what I used to do in my olden single days when I wasn't eating out every night and getting soft.

This weekend I am going to a bachelor party, so I will be able to practice being vulgar and enjoying strippers and stuff like that.

The coolest thing about this upcoming weekend will be the paintball. I am looking forward to that, though I anticipate not doing very well. I know from my spotty forays into the sporting world that I'm not all that agile or quick on my feet. I imagine I will just get hit a lot out of nowhere and have to lie down and act dead until my team finishes up. I imagine that's how things would be if I was in an actual war too, so I am glad I never joined the army like I briefly thought about doing after I graduated high school.

Oh, Print Gocco, how I love thee. You are so easy to use, and you will save me so much money on my wedding invitations... Yes, for a mere 118 dollars, I bought my own little silk-screening machine, and now I don't have to stress about paying for any fancy printer to do the work for me. Nay, all I have to do now is buy the paper, and Print Gocco will take care of the rest...

I have got 3 and half more pages to go and then the next chapter of the Hedonism epic is finished. Once I realized I was almost done with it, I got depressed. I think because I know I am going to have to start doing all the tiresome back-end book prouction stuff again, and Gabagool! #4 is still sitting around in boxes waiting to be sold. I feel like the books will do well at SPX, but without real distribution this whole project is going to quickly become stupid. Luckily for me, my depression made it hard for me to do all that much drawing yesterday, thus delaying the inevitable, expensive, and perhaps ill-advised production part of the process.