Travis Seitler: Web Designer

This dude took pride in his cause
Everyday put on his costume which defined who he was
He said he didn’t care, he liked being unique
Accused the rest of the world of being a bunch of sheep

Lived his life going against the grain
Spent all of his time with those who felt the same
Hit his mid-twenties and still nothing’s changed
Except his boys who chose to grow with age

Now he’s looking for friends with the same behavior
He hangs out on campus with a bunch of teenagers
He’s punk rock, he’s hip-hop, he’s everything the system’s not
And he likes it that way

He likes being on the defense
He likes having something to fight against
He likes calling himself a revolutionist…

— John Reuben, Cooperate

Nicole and I have a goal for 2010: to go to Comic Con International.

The first (and only) time we were able to go was in 2005, when Gemstone Publishing paid my way. Nicole’s heart breaks a little more each year we don’t go back. I didn’t spend as much time actually enjoying the convention (I was working the floor, and most of my free time seemed to be spent in various lines and queues for things like the HeroScape demo), but Nicole had pretty much nothing to do except roam the convention floor. If you’ve never been, you wouldn’t believe the number of buttons, stickers and other miscellaneous doodads she brought back.

She wants to dye her hair bright green and sit in on all the Hall H stuff. I want to hob-nob with my former industry associates, actually attend the Eisner Awards ceremony, take some photos next to life-size Star Wars vehicles, and just generally immerse myself in geek culture for half a week. (Okay, and I want to ogle the next year’s lineup of G.I. Joe figures, too.) We both want to get that “kids in Disney World” feeling again, and SDCC is the perfect place for it.

But we gotta get there first.

Penelope (“Penny”) Joy Seitler
born June 17th, 2009 at 1:09pm
weighing 9 lbs, 4 oz and measuring 20 inches long

More to come later, but for now? We rest.

I figure it’s better than continuing to leave you with the impression that I’ve fallen off the face of the earth or something similarly macabre.

To be honest, I’ve been working on a few web sites (including the Digichick, which Nicole took over last month). Between that and extra work around the house I’ve been doing (since I’m around the house to do it), it’s been pretty busy around here.

Now in Family Circus: kids handling dead animals… it’s funny?

Apparently the years of inane, almost-funny strips… it was all an act! In the course of a single 1-panel comic, Keane has pwned all the haters. He has shown just how dark and twisted he can really be.

I mean, having the star of the strip carrying around a dead pet, implying through his question that maybe… just maybe… his sweet kitten isn’t dead after all? Ooh! Bravo, Mr. Keane. You have successfully shown us all that you can play demented with the best of ‘em, while at the same time making us feel guilty for ever wanting to see it in the first place.

Could it be that we’re on the cusp of seeing Family Circus walk down paths blazed by Lynn Johnston’s For Better or For Worse Gouge Your Eyes Out and Tom Batiuk’s Funky Winkerbean (Remembers Dead Loved Ones Over A Pint Filled With His Own Tears)?

Please, good sir, bring back the schlock tomorrow! I don’t think our hearts could take little Billy’s reaction when he realizes that “DED KITTEH… IZ DED.”

(At least, I could wish this was the intended meaning behind the strip. Nicole thinks it’s something more… inane. One can hope, though…)