Found at Powell’s:

A 1st edition. Very very happy. Midori’s “Alison Gross” is in this one - I’ve wanted to read it for a while.

I can’t believe we’ve been here for a week already.

How do I love thee, Portland? Let me count the ways…

Powell’s. We were there for well over three hours and I still felt (marginally) rushed. Not in that “Leland, quit rushing me” way, mind. Because he doesn’t rush me. There’s just never enough time at Powell’s.
Fat City Cafe. Breakfast here, full ’til dinnertime. O yes.
Fred Meyer. Comfort shopping at its best. Makes me think of a ten-year-old Leland in Toughskins & snowpants. That warm & fuzzy feeling.
The Moon & Six. Leland’s old haunt. Kevin Burke’s current Monday night hangout. Home of the world’s best bread pudding (it’s all about the whiskey and the melted butter). ‘Except I didn’t have any last night. Too many sweet potato fries at McMenamin’s.

Now we’re at Periscope, attempting to get a little work done. But I’m blogging, as you can see. Lieber is here! We thought he would be off for the holidays by now.

I do need to get working, though. Yes, I’m doing a story for the just-announced Tori Amos anthology due out next year and, well, it’s, like, due. Like, soon. Can’t mention the song/story yet (one of my all-time favorites) and I haven’t asked the artist if they mind being outed on the blog here. It’s been tough holding back, though - I like to think I’m above the squeeing, but not where this particular artist is involved.

And Tori too, of course. Her influence on my inner landscape, and therefore my work, cannot be overstated.

“Dang, I wish I could draw,” I said.

“Well, everyone can draw something,” he said.

“I used to sit around drawing dolphins in, like, 1984.”

And he handed me the pen:

Then Nikki took over. I don’t know who drew the little dude in the corner. Why dolphins, you ask? Here’s a clue.

We’re leaving for Portland in about 15 minutes. The new issue of WIZARD arrived just under the wire (shush - Mr. WIZARD put me on the comp list like 5 years ago). Guess who’s on the cover! Why, Heath Ledger! Root around in the comments over here for Adam “theatrical rad villain design psychic” Boorman’s amazing pre-casting Joker sketch.

We had a grand time at the CBLDF party last night. Lots of great folks - met some new faces and chatted with old friends too. What is UP with Rick Spears moving to Virginia? Well, ok. We know what’s up. It’s a great move - they’re buying a house! But we’ll miss him and Brandi.

Most surreal moment: the special guests photo, wherein I’m standing amid Leland (natch), Fiffe, Kyle Baker, Paul Pope, and… Moby. Yes, that Moby (what other Moby could there possibly be?). I’m sure it’ll be floating around on the Internet soon enough.

I’ll have a scan later of the dolphin Paul Pope talked me into drawing. OK, so it didn’t take much arm-twisting. But as I haven’t drawn a dolphin (read: or anything, really) since, oh, 1984 or something, this is somewhat notable.

I should get on back to work now…

I just received the Ravelry invite last night:

http://www.ravelry.com/people/comicsvalentine

I only just signed up maybe a month or two ago, so they must be getting ready to launch.

New username, just for fun. I love comics. I love valentines. Two great things that go great together.

+

I want a pattern for that heart.

I’m talking about the end of the beret phase, and the beginning of something new. Like a cloche phase, perhaps.

Yeah. That’s it. I sense a cloche phase coming on, complete with flower adornments and everything. Hrm.

This weekend just flew right by. Unfortunately, I was sitting at my computer for most of it. I’m still in that working-for-oneself phase whereby one is working out just exactly how much work one can take on without going bananas. Still afloat. All copy assignments for the month are almost wrapped up, and I’m looking forward to a little creative time. And getting my holiday act together — still stuff left to do there.

More deadlines, but they’re for comics short stories. Good things.

Any crocheters out there who feel compelled to point me in the direction of cloche patterns, go right ahead…

New interview with my husband at The Pulse!

Woot, et double woot!

Real updates coming soon, promise. Trying to get everything done before we leave for Portland for the holidays feels impossible! But then we’ll have 10 days to relax, and believe me, I’m going to take full advantage… and hit the ground running when we get home.

Now go check out the interview.