Bone

I was tired of working today and went to the book store. I normally read business, computer, faith books but am tired of reality. I have not read a good comic or graphic novel in a long time, so I decided to stroll down the graphic novel section. It is funny, you can't call them comics anymore, it's "graphic novel".

Anyway, Caitlyn is into graphic novels, but they seem to be dark like "MAUS" by Spiegelman , Watchman, or Batman type. All of these are classics and must reads, but very dark.

I picked up a graphic novel called "Bone". At first glance it read well and had a good plot. I liked the balance of comedy & adventure. They had 9 books in a series that were full color and beautiful. I found a huge book that had 10 years of the story line which is the complete series. Even though it was black and white, I decided to buy it. I dropped down $30, which for me is insane cause I am cheap. But, something told me to buy it and I just started reading it, I love it.

I went online and did some research. It is ironic that Spiegelman is the one who told the author of Bone, to recreate Bone into a series of full color graphic novels. Spiegelman's MAUS novel are in black and white. He insisted Bone should be re released in color, because it is about life and hope, where his novel was about the holocaust and death.

Bone started out in as a character Smith drew when he was 9 years old. When Smith went to college, he drew the Bone strip in the college paper and got paid $7 per strip. He later published independently a few comics of Bone, all along knowing he had a very large story to tell. The summary of Bone or Smith's career here does not do it justice. Maybe the links below and reading it yourself may. Check it out...

When I am done reading it, I will let you know my final thoughts. Here are some related links:

Interview:

• MUST see video interview
• Interview with Jeff as a cartoon

Buy the books & collector items:

• Scholastic site- full color release
• Bone - all in one book (I just got this one)
• Bone - individual hard cover series
• Collector items
• Jeff's new novel "RASL" - About a thief who time travels to steal art
  

Related Site:

• Cartoon Research Library

The artwork in the color versions (Scholastic) is outstanding, I plan to collect them all and would love to frame the covers.

Harvest Time

Kathi has been working hard in the garden this year. Everything is doing really well using the square foot garden method.

Here is a picture of the garden and also a video of a turtle that came to visit us.

For pictures of the 2008 Garden click here.

Eno River

The Eno River at first glance seems like a city river polluted, with little to offer. But, once you start exploring all the paths along the river, there is a lot of opportunity to enjoy nature.

As a kid I don't remember having access to anything like this. I love going for a hike after work with the kids or on the weekends. We not only talk about nature and the importance of preserving it, but also about life. It forces us to slow down and go back to basics. No email, cell phone, TV, or Internet to worry about...

I hope they grow up appreciating the Eno River and have wonderful memories.

I have great memories of the Eno myself to include a canoe trip with my wife, hiking with Caitlyn and Kathi, playing Xena Warrior (I was not Xena) Princess through the woods, throwing rocks with the kids, swimming with our dogs, and the number one memory of all....... Taking an inflatable canoe down the river when it was right after the hurricane. Needless to say, my canoe lost control, got punctured by a huge tree in the river, and I walked home!

• Wafting on the Eno
• Eno River Association
• River presentation

Talent

I saw this and thought it was funny. Takes talent too. What would make someone decide to do this? I got to try it.