TERMS & CONDITIONS (a fiction) — Parenthetical Recluse
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:: ring/ring :: who once knew someone you once knew once upon a somewhen going on and on and with requisite demonstrative gesticulation from across the condiments and dressings aisle about how they wished that they had had just ten more minutes with their dad or with their cat or with what/whoever i
on Sep 5
doppleganger — Parenthetical Recluse
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In the space of a single, sub-minute trip to the Post Office, I encountered two other versions of my little Maverick: one, pulling into the gas station as I exited, and the second, a similarly slate-colored XLT – though not a hybrid, like Vanna – driven by a dumbfounded guy picking up his mail "
on Mon, 10PM
on more words here (again) — Parenthetical Recluse
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I want to write more words here but every time I begin the process of writing more words, I lose all interest in the thought by the end of the first sentence. This being the exception. Perhaps a time limit needs to return – 15 minutes for the comix blogging of The Informalities , 15 minutes for the
on Nov 16
Calavera Neón — Parenthetical Recluse
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Went back and forth on this one and finally pulled the trigger: what can I say, I’m a sucker for unusual - and beautiful - chronographs. Undone may be my favorite watchmaker at the moment.
on Nov 11
Farewell, Attendance Cards, hello (again) The Informalities — Parenthetical Recluse
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Frequency and rules stay the same (daily, 4’33” - though that timing may increase, TBD – sketch featuring myself and nuHerbie in some form of single-panel adventure) but it’s time to move away from stealing Lynda Barry’s name and re-embrace The Informalities , my favorite series title of anything I
on Nov 7
and here we go — Parenthetical Recluse
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It is just past 1500 in Ohio and I have cracked the first of my election day beers. Turnout seems relatively lackadaisical (hardcore Cheeto Tumor ‘burg – though it might be worth noting that, in 2020, there were 16 Cheeto Tumor / Pestilence signs on my running route and one Biden / Harris sign while
on Nov 5
Saturday project — Parenthetical Recluse
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Paintshop transformation continues. Built an action figure display(!) in the space between where The Collection ends and the books begin. P.S. boards across chalk ware Supermen are placeholders to keep them from falling while I muck about with said transformation.
on Oct 19
the paintshop, currently — Parenthetical Recluse
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Remodel / repurposing of The Paintshop into workout room (one section) and the home for The Collection (second section) and my grandfather’s pool table. More shelves need to be built and much construction and demolition in the non-Collection areas. But I needed a place to be at least somewhat rea
on Oct 17
weekend scrap project — Parenthetical Recluse
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Combined the detritus of recent porch and shelf construction projects (along with one of several inherited cutting boards - anyone need one?) to make a set of shelves / extension for the (extremely very limited) kitchen counters. Rather pleased with how this one turned out.
on Oct 6
A.A. VOID, EXTRAORDINAIRE 01 — Parenthetical Recluse
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Continuing my cartooning experiments with a new little comic, A.A. VOID, EXTRAORDINAIRE. Hoping to make my new faceless friend’s – sort of a cross of The Question and Mr. Belvedere? – adventures into the surreal a regular thing, but who knows. Either way, I had fun and that’s really all I c
on Oct 4
processing — Parenthetical Recluse
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Thinking today of how my means of processing life, my processings of processings, have changed over time. Writing - journaling in notebooks and reMarkables or blogging here - used to be the main way, but now I seem to have moved more over into fiction and cartooning. Attendance Cards as graphic bl
on Sep 27
to go exploring comics — Parenthetical Recluse
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With the exception of two things I've committed to producing for others, I'm putting all of my stories on hold until the end of the year to more fully (let myself) explore cartooning and comics. Since I was in single digits, I wanted to draw comics – and those times when I let myself toil at it were
on Sep 21
bye, paper (more or less) — Parenthetical Recluse
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Ever since I brought the reMarkable2 into my practice and life, I've been as passionate in my adoration of it as I have my in hesitance to fully embrace it; I've now been in the throes of the former for much of the week. Maybe, just maybe, I figured out how to use it – and, maybe, found a reason to
on Sep 8
"i think we need to discuss this situation" — Parenthetical Recluse
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I’ve had this little vignette staring at me for awhile and wanted to overcome my fear of putting it out into the world in such a rough state. As has been the case of most of my output for the last year, it has to do with my grandfather’s death. Hoping this is the last time I revisit the subject - bu
on Sep 7
chalkmare — Parenthetical Recluse
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My love for 1940s chalkware Supermen (to the tune of having 13 of them in The Collection ) knows no bounds - the weirder the better - but the latest acquisition might be the most… special. Offered up, for your nightmares:
on Sep 4
first day — Parenthetical Recluse
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First day working in NuSanctum – though much of that Work involved installing the air conditioner as the space was uninhabitable by 1030, a placeholder until the heat pump – and it's been exactly what I've wanted in a workspace for years (the knowledge that my useless creative meanderings are no l
on Aug 28
solaaaarrrr — Parenthetical Recluse
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Hank and Aiden, the local sun gods, are at work: four panels are on the roof, the boxes are installed inside, big batteries unpacked, Derbz is going crazy with people in his backyard, and, by the end of the day, I'll have 12kw of renewable solar power surging through NuSanctum. Also nice: not only w
on Aug 27
major (DIY) construction operations complete — Parenthetical Recluse
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Finished the flooring and trim yesterday, the desk today. Other than solar (leaving that part to the pros on Tuesday) and shelves and moving all writing / making stuff out there, major DIY NuSanctum construction operations are complete. Aiming to be Working-working in there by the end of the week.
on Aug 25
flooring, ctd. — Parenthetical Recluse
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My grandfather wouldve been 98 today (though 96 good years and two royally shitty months of 97 are a solid record; we should all be so lucky) and, with the exception of one row by the door area – on the docket today, along with floor trim which I'll be sourcing from the already-stained pieces of wha
on Aug 24
me v that fucking floor — Parenthetical Recluse
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Left hand and inner forearm loaded up with its morning dose of "healing ointment": didn't count on falling asleep being such a bitch with Herbie jabbed in one side, a tender and awesomely inked arm on the other, and Beyonce's "Freedom" stuck in my head after Harris's amazing ac
on Aug 23
fresh ink — Parenthetical Recluse
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Back from a fantastic ink therapy appointment with the inimitable Jess Whitmore . Ditko Spidey symbol on my left hand (the band is my wedding band tattoo, and was my first bit of ink, retouched today), and a panel layout on my inner left forearm which will either become an actual comic or somethi
on Aug 23
first coat, ceiling edition — Parenthetical Recluse
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Finally decided to go with the redwood stain on the ceilings. Next up: finish wood filling of my shiplapping incompetence on the walls, solar / heat pump install, second coat of wall paint, floor, and trim. Inch by inch…
on Aug 16
rewild(?) — Parenthetical Recluse
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First day of school (childless; small humans arrive next Wednesday) for K. Meetings and meetings and meetings and more meetings. Keep wanting to do more text things here, but nothing coming to me, except this. With the impending workspace move to NuSanctum, my mornings will look a bit different –
on Aug 15
(nu)sanctum/20240811 — Parenthetical Recluse
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Ceilings, walls, and eaves are done. Gaps in the walls on the right and left are the next pieces to tackle: wrap-around shelving for under the eaves and above those workstations (I’ll also build shelving for under the stand-up desks. Bit by bit, (Nu)Sanctum comes to life…
on Aug 11
NUCLEAR WAR: A SCENARIO (Annie Jacobson, 2024) — Parenthetical Recluse
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Rating this one is impossible, so I'll leave it at that it's quite possibly the most terrifying thing I've ever read and something everyone should read. All it takes is one madman – and we've got a world full of them.
on Aug 10
Nu-Sanctum update — Parenthetical Recluse
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NuSanctum (formerly NuShed) progress continues apace: took a step back and put everything in something resembling its final placement (from the cacophony of its previous week) to figure out what to do next. Eaves are done and doored up; ceiling tile and metal sheets in place (still in fine-tuning pr
on Aug 8
project updates, 2024w31 — Parenthetical Recluse
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Since it's the final weeks of summer break, I'm still in that "three months of Saturdays" mode, creatively, and haven't gotten as far as I'd've liked with anything, really, but did manage to send off the first story in a collab with my best hermano from music school which he dug. Looking f
on Aug 3
insulated and viced — Parenthetical Recluse
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Finished the roof and eaves insulation this afternoon and, so far, lungs aren't caving in from Pink Panther detritus. Also installed the antique vice I bought which wasn't the one I originally was going to buy, but buying this one from the old guy at K’s favorite booth scored her a good deal on her
on Aug 1
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Might be getting ahead of myself here (surprise, surprise), considering there's a lot to be done (thinking I'll start insulating the roof and loft areas today) before I can fully move my process of processing operations to NuShed , but, if The Paintshop is, currently, about results – working while
on Jul 29
desktoppery — Parenthetical Recluse
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Two desktops are built and resting on VERY temporary legs so I can figure how much more desk I need (two feet, give or take); for-really-real legs arrive tomorrow. Solar guys will start rough wiring the system next Wednesday so I can start drywalling by the end of next week. Might be working in her
on Jul 26
the shed, cardboard planning and solar quotes edition — Parenthetical Recluse
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Plans are drawn on cardboard, tools are in their temporary home, strength / boxing equipment has found its home, and assistant Jorkie is ready to assist. While I wait for solar installation - solar guys just left, quote coming tomorrow - I'm hoping to get to work on my desk / workbench area. Until
on Jul 22
nu-shed has arrived(!) — Parenthetical Recluse
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Current plan is that it will become my studio or, as I’m fond of saying, the place where I build shit and write shit. The Paintshop will become the home of The Collection and the pool table. Next steps: solar power. I’d love to be fully moved in and working in it by Thanksgiving. A shit-tonne of con
on Jul 20
m3 paintshop reorientation, ctd — Parenthetical Recluse
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Large monitor, gone; rising desk, gone; Kinesis keyboard, gone. All that's left is the M3 laptop, the Logitech Ergo trackball, and the Stream Deck – resting, as it should, atop a 1966 red Batman Bat-phone. Picked up one of those $100 Arzopa portable monitors though I've yet to figure out a
on Jul 17
M3 morning one — Parenthetical Recluse
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First morning with the M3 Air being one of experimentation, of figuring our way around each other, of making do with improvised risers (have an actual laptop stand coming later today), and adapting previous processes to this new tool: it's been a most welcome change. 15" M3 screen so good I don
on Jul 13
"so what do you do?" — Parenthetical Recluse
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For the first time in memory, I've been telling anyone who asks me what I do the truth: I don't know, that I'm still figuring it out – and, while I rarely provide context or qualification for my answer (after all the upheaval the last few years, I'm still learning to live without them, for better a
on Jul 11
babyshed, ctd — Parenthetical Recluse
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( previously …) Roof paneling is almost done, save for a few more 1x4x6 choppings, and K has stained the front and side and added the first touch of her-ness with the sun. Butterflies incoming...
on Jul 10
BabyShed — Parenthetical Recluse
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Summer project, number two: BabyShed, under construction, while we wait on NuShed to arrive. Why do we need two sheds? Other than because why the fuck not, we're going to turn NuShed - at least partially - into my office (Paintshop will be refitted to make room for my grandfather's pool table) and w
on Jul 9
TOKYO THESE DAYS, Vol. One (Taiyo Matsumoto, 2021) — Parenthetical Recluse
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(*****+ / *****) : Everything I love about the emotional possibilities of comics in one perfect package of beautiful art, wonderful characters, and a moving meta-narrative of purpose and the act of creation. Hooked.
on Jul 7
the pull-list, 2024w27 — Parenthetical Recluse
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ZATANNA: BRING DOWN THE HOUSE (Tamaki / Rodríguez)... DESTRO (Watters / Brennan)... SELF-HELP (O. King / Kellerman)... INTO THE UNBEING, PART ONE (Z. Thompson / Sherman)... GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT: THE KRYPTONIAN AGE (Diggle / Fernandez)... FALLING IN LOVE ON THE PATH TO HELL (Duggan / Brown)... SCARLETT
on Jul 4
potting station alpha — Parenthetical Recluse
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K had been using an old outdoor table that I’d moved (in mowing frustration) under the old swingset as a gardening / potting workstation, and we both ended up liking how it looked. Emboldened in projects of a construction nature after I built a fence panel and a retaining wall for NuShed, I deci
on Jun 30