I Can't Wait For...

The Wonder Woman animated DVD! I had almost forgotten about it until the last week when a friend reminded me. It is out March 3 which is this coming week! Amazing.

Anyone else planning to pick it up?

On that note, I am going to go work. I have been doing as much extra as I can in this extra economy, which accounts for most of my absence here. Have a great weekend!

Where Has the Fun Gone?

Lately with how the economy has been sputtering and faltering, I have been dead serious about life. Between working hard at a job that I like and trying to get as far ahead on payments as possible, I have pretty much forgotten how to have fun. Sad, huh?

I read comics and enjoy them, but it is a momentary situation. It allows me to put everything in the back of my mind. It also allows me to suspend disbelief, which is always a good thing. The bad news is that I have cut so far back, my joy has lessened significantly. I am hoping to try and change that down the road.

The reality though is that our economy isn't just going to bounce back. I don't care who is in office at this point- things are very scary. In our home county, unemployment has soared over 11%. It just isn't possible to find a job. I am so blessed with my career that I can't say enough about it.

The bottom line though is that I haven't just sat back and tried to do something just for me. I want to do something just for fun. Going to see Watchmen next week is a possibility. I would also like to see my nephews again. That would be fun. I have even gone so far as to consider going bowling sometime. I am looking to have FUN.

How are you having fun these days? I know that several of you have cut back of completely quit reading comics. What have you found to fill the void? I am really curious, and I would like to have some fun too!

Have a wonderful evening! I miss you guys, and I have been remiss in my blogging!

New Comics for February 25

Good news in my little world- my luggage showed up! I had to go to a hotel that is a stop for the airporter shuttle to pick it up, but I didn't care. I was just so happy that it wasn't lost forever, that I didn't argue. My laundry is done, my supplies put away, and all is right with the world!

In other news, my comic book order for the month should ship on Wednesday. This is very exciting because we are down to only getting one monthly shipment. I have two comics this week that will be added to my pile. They are:

Justice Society of America #24- pictured

Wonder Woman #29

There are a few comics I dropped that I would pick up if I had the extra cash. They are as follows.

Green Lantern #38

Superman #685

Captain America #47

Ms. Marvel #36

She-Hulk 2 #38- which may be the final issue.

Otherwise I am pretty happy with my cutbacks. I am shocked how much I have gotten used to the idea of getting a lot less comics one time a month. Neccesity can be a magical thing that way.

I know you will be shocked, but I have a busy week in store for me. Hopefully I will glide through it with grace and assurance. LOL. In the meantime, take care and I will check back in!

Back Home Again

Yay! I am home again! After spending the last three and a half days in Reno at a trade show, it feels good to be here. My bed felt comfy and it was nice to be in my familiar environment. Now if my luggage will ever show up, life will be perfect!

Yep. My luggage got lost. My coworker and I made the drive from Seattle home last night with just my purse. That was stressful. I got home at 1 a.m. and showered and went to bed. I just got a call an hour ago telling me that my luggage is found and is on a shuttle of sorts to my house. That is a huge relief!

We stayed at the Peppermill in Reno and it was pretty decent. I was fortunate enough to have my own room, and it had a view at night. My only complaint it the usual one- as a non-smoker, it was annoying to have every bit of my body smelling like cigarette smoke. I will have to wash every article of clothing I took, even if I didn't wear it. Sorry smokers, but it just frustrates me!

On that note, I am going to go try and catch up with stuff around the house. Laundry, more laundry, paying bills, cleaning, and the usual tomfoolery! Have a good day!

New Comics for February 18

Well, it is another week and I actually have a comic I am picking up... or two! It is a banner week. LOL. Two books are ending, and those are the books I am getting. They are:

Birds of Prey #127

Noble Causes #39 - cover pictured.

Crazy, huh? Both books are on their final issues and they are the ones on my list. I don't know if that is good or bad. I am happy to have a couple this week.

Here are the books I would have gotten:

Justice League of America #30

Supergirl #38- the new Superwoman story looks intriguing.

Punisher Max #67

Uncanny X-Men #506

That is it! On that note, I am off to Reno for my company trade show and I won't be back until Saturday. I will have no computer, so my usual excuses for not blogging are out the window and I have just cause. LOL! I will be having serious withdrawals for the next week, and maybe that will put the wind back in my sails. In the meantime, have a wonderful week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Instead of my usual grumbling about having to cut back on comics or how busy I am, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! After a hectic Friday the 13th, it is just the breath of fresh air we all needed!

NO New Comics for February 11

Yesterday was a milestone in my comic book collecting career. I had no books to pick up. Zero. Nada. Zip. For the first time in over 15 years, a week has come and gone with nothing new on the pull list. I feel pretty numb about it. It is both awful and satisfying at the same time. It is awful because one of my favorite things has been put on the back burner but it is good because it really does show that I am saving money.

I feel like I am at a crossroads of sorts. I really wish I could go back to the old days, but it just isn't possible. Maybe down the road. In the meantime, here is my wishlist of books to pick up someday... maybe.

Action Comics #874
Batman #686
Fables #81- I really miss this book
Nightwing #153- the series is almost ended.
Darkness #75

That is it. I would have only had five books if I hadn't changed my pull list. Maybe some of the titles I buy are ending and maybe some have changed in quality so much that I simply don't pick them up anymore.

Sorry to be on a downer here. I wish things were different. Did any of you pick up anything you enjoyed that I should consider getting in the future?

Coming Up For Air...

I am at the end of a weight loss contest so when I am not at work, I am at the gym. Part of my team weighs out Thursday night and the other weighs out Friday. Needless to say, I am exhausted. My other contest goes until April, so I will not have to live at the gym so much. Also, my work continues to keep me busy, so that is another challenge.

In comic book news, I am on pins and needles for the end of 100 Bullets. I am also becoming very interested in the new Wonder Woman arc - it seems destined to really shake up the status quo there. I also enjoyed the end of the JSA "Gog" storyline after being really underwhelmed by it in the beginning.

When I went to the concert the other night, I realized that my ears can't handle full-on, distorted, loud music anymore. My ears weren't right again until 48 hours later. It sucks to realize how sensitive my ears have gotten. The Heidi that went to see Motley Crue in 1985 could never pull it off again without some kind of ear protection, and that is extremely humbling.

Have a good one and I will check back in with the new comics for the week tomorrow!

Random Thoughts and Musings: Rocker Edition

Thursday night I went and saw a concert with four popular rock bands- Saving Abel, Papa Roach, Avenged Sevenfold, and Buckcherry. It was fantastic to have these groups come to our town rather than having to make the sojourn over the mountains to Seattle or Portland. Needless to say, my city was very excited and it showed as the concert was virtually sold out.

I took my friend Kerry and headed over to the Sundome. We actually had awesome "seats" as we were on the floor in the front quarter of the audience. In the new school fashion of concerts, there were no chairs on the floor- just concrete. That made Kerry very nervous, as he had never attended a rock show before. I figured it was going to be okay as I am a solid girl who isn't afraid to shove a bit to keep my place. LOL.

Saving Abel opened the show, and I was very impressed. Their big radio song was "Addicted", but they also had a few good rockers. The lead singer had an incredible voice, and the band played with conviction. I appreciated the crowd to band interaction and Kerry really enjoyed it. We had an excellent view since we were so close to the front. No one moshed during their performance, but there was a lot of jumping up and down. My favorite song was "New Tattoo".

Papa Roach came on next and just killed it. The audience went nuts as lead singer Jacoby Shaddox came into the crowd and sang "Getting Away with Murder". I hadn't seen that kind of fan interaction and symbiosis since taking in a Motley Crue show a decade ago. It was insane, but it was also wonderful. My favorite moment was when the band performed "Forever" and everyone jumped up and down in unison.

The crowd that night was definitely there to see Avenged Sevenfold. When the band hit the state, there was absolute chaos. I moved my friend back a bit so that we were about halfway back on the floor. He didn't want to be in the middle of the moshing, and it was probably a good thing as it got pretty nuts. The lead singer was a bit detached at times, but he really delivered the vocals. Synyter Gates, the lead guitarist, really did a nice job on his three part solo. The entire crowd really vibed when he was in his groove. My favorite song was "Scream".

I felt kinda bad for Buckcherry. The crowd was tired and I noticed folks leaving before they hit the stage. Prior to the concert, they were my main reason for getting tickets. Josh Todd didn't disappoint, doing his Axl Rose moves and keeping the ladies entranced with his lean, tattooed torso. I really enjoyed the performance, but was very upset at the low energy of the crowd. After the band did "Crazy Bitch", people left in droves. I was pissed and embarrassed for my city.

What did I learn at the show? Papa Roach rocks, Saving Abel is a new favorite, Avenged Sevenfold is loud, Josh Todd has a lot of tattoos, and my friend doesn't like to stand for six straight hours! LOL. I really enjoyed myself and wish that more shows like this would come to town. We mostly get country shows, which is all good and well, but I don't go to those. We need to get more rock shows here!

On that note, my tired butt has to get to the gym. I am really back into working out, so bear with me. Since I figured out that my high school reunion is coming up, and since I have felt so out of shape, it is a requirement.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Random Thoughts and Musings: Final Crisis Edition

Yesterday we got our DCBS order, and in it was Final Crisis #7. Without giving away any spoilers, I would like to make some general statements.

1. It was indeed a bit of a trippy Grant Morrison affair. The man is unique, and his writing style has a certain sophistication wrapped in a acid trip that no other writer has duplicated. Morrison writes with a confidence that allows no room for conjecture. I never cease to be amazed by this. From The Invisibles to X-Men, the man has no peer in this department. I sometimes question the fact that he has remained so true to the floppy format when I can easily visualize his work in hardback or movie script format.

2. Doug Mahnke made me a believer with his artwork. His style is also unique, and though he was inked by no less than seven inkers, I still appreciated that the man can come through in a crunch. No offense to J.G. Jones, whose work I enjoy, but Mahnke owned it in the end. There is a double page spread towards the middle that ties things together for me.

3. I am glad the whole affair is over. I am burned out on crossovers and big events. I want to find the characters again and focus on their single titles. It irritates me to no end that there is this whole villains month in January that is being followed by an "origins and omens" month at DC. Let the characters get back to their own threads and spend time with their supporting casts, for God's sake!

Those were the three points that were stuck in my head last night. What did you think?

I am off to see Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, and Saving Abel tomorrow night so I will see you back here Friday! Have a great one!

New Comics for February 4

Holy Crap, it is February. I can't believe it. This just means that before I get organized, it will probably be March, right? I went and saw my family this past weekend and had Christmas FINALLY, so I had a nice time, but was really out of the loop. I know that there is a great deal of uproar about Final Crisis #7, but since I won't see it until tomorrow, I am trying to remain neutral. I hope to re-read the entire mini-series this weekend and judge it than.

In rock and roll news, I am going to see Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, and Raising Abel at our local venue this Thursday. I am really excited as it is the first rock concert to come to town since Motley Crue and Pantera hit our town in 1998. It sucks that the concert is on a weekday, but it is going to be okay since I can make it to Friday night and than go to bed early!

My list of comics for the week is small but fascinating. Here it is:

Dark Ivory #4 (of 4)

Boys #27

That is it, which is a bit odd. I am getting used to having so few comics though.

If I hadn't cut back, here are a few more I would have picked up.

Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #3 (of 5)- which I believe is running late.

Secret Six #6- killer book that I am going to start getting again in March.

Witchblade #124- which I dropped with much trepidation

Secret Warriors #1- because Nick Fury is in it.

The only other book I was remotely interested in was Black Panther 2 #1. I can live without the rest, and I am happy about that. This isn't nearly as painful as I thought it was going to be. I miss the blogging about the books and having more to say here more then anything.

I will be back tomorrow to catch up on comments. For now I have to go get in front of the television- Heroes is back!

Random Thoughts and Musings

Well, it's official. My New Year's resolution to blog more is in the toilet. I am mad at myself, and I can't see it getting better anytime soon. I am busy at work and frantically working out. I miss the days that I got home before 8 p.m. at night. It will improve sooner than later, especially with the days getting longer again. I hope to entice my hubby into going walking with me sometimes.

The economy sucks more than ever. When even Microsoft lays off people, you know times are tough. I just can't believe how bad unemployment is and am very thankful that I have a job. When I open the news in the morning and at night, I feel bombarded with new crappy news. I hope that all of you are being able to continue to have work, and that you are doing alright.

At this point, I am not worried about my comic book cutbacks. I am just thankful I can pay my bills. Someday I hope to catch up on back issues or get some new trades, but for the time being, at least I have the comfort that I can surf the 'net for free... at least for now.

How's it going for you? How are the comics buying habits? How are the local shops you frequent doing? I am very curious. Let me know if you have a chance.

Until than, take care.

New Comics for January 28

January is already almost over, and it continues to amaze me how quickly time flies. As I get older, it seems that the days get away from me more than ever. I don't know how much of it is the hours I am working, followed by the workouts, or just the fact that I need more sleep, but it is almost Valentines Day and I haven't even considered plans.

At any rate, my comic list this week features multiple titles, so I am quite giddy. My books this week are:

Final Crisis #7 (of 7)

Justice Society of America #23

Wonder Woman #28- cover pictured

Woo hoo! Three of my five titles are coming out this week! That means that when my DCBS order ships this Wednesday, I will have almost 45 minutes of reading... if I take it slowly. LOL.

Here is a list of the books I would have picked up before the cutbacks.

Batman #685

Superman #684

Teen Titans #67- kind of relieved to have dropped this, but kind of irritated because I have so many years of continuity. Must get past that!

Captain America #46- someday I would like to pick this back up.

Daredevil #115- ditto on this one.

Ms Marvel #35- I miss Carol's adventures.

Punisher War Zone #6 (of 6)- I may end up getting since I have the first five issues.

She-Hulk 2 #37- I miss Jen too.

Ultimate Spider-Man #130- surprisingly not too upset about this one.

That is the list for this week. What are you picking up? What have you dropped that you might have picked up before?

Catching Up With the Past

The last year I have been cleaning my basement a little at a time, and finding treasures and memories there along with the clutter. I found old comic books that I had a fondness for, pictures of beloved family members, college "party" pictures, old yearbooks, and lots of letters. Those made me a bit nostalgic and I enjoyed looking through those memories with fresh eyes.

Then my high school and college friends started finding each other on Facebook. At first I was very surprised, and my memory a bit spotty, but I can now say I have fully embraced it. My 25th (!!!!) high school reunion is this coming summer, so the timing couldn't be better. It has also been wonderful reconnecting with some of my best friends from college. I have had a lot of fun catching up.

What is strange is how the memory works. As I have gotten older, my brain has filled with many of my job functions. I have also made many new memories, like getting married, losing loved ones, and meeting new people who are now good friends.

I had to go pull my junior high and high school yearbooks. What I found there amazed me. I was on the yearbook committee in 9th grade, and after looking at the book, I remembered so much! I had a couple of girls I was really close with- Alice and Carol- and I really lost track with them after that. It makes me a bit sad. I also recalled really enjoying my time in yearbook class and realized how much the teacher Mr. Allen helped me.

My yearbook from my senior year at high school sucks and it makes me really sad. I was on the ASB council, which made me very proud back in the day, and the page isn't even titled correctly. My FFA club was completely ignored, and most other groups were as well. The yearbook focused on a couple of yearbook members and their friends. All I can think of is that the teacher must have just let the kids run wild. My yearbook from my junior year is much better and fills in a lot of gaps.

I am just amazed at how much more I have forgotten than I remember. I had blocked a few things out- like getting picked on by the senior girls when I was in FFA and being too scared to kiss my boyfriend in junior high. Those were memories I could have lived without!! I also realized that I was trying way too hard to be cool, when I should have just been myself. That makes me sad.

Looking at a yearbook elicits much the same reaction looking at an old comic book does. I can look at Justice League of America #115 and remember where I was and what was going on around me when I read it. I look at my May Fete court pictures the same way. I can remember betraying two friends who were fooling around behind another friend's back and suffering anguish over it. I can also remember just wanting to be done with high school so badly. It all got in the way of enjoying the fact that for the first and last time in my life I was a princess. LOL.

At any rate, I am curious about this- have you had the same experience? Have you forgotten certain things and found mementos that bring a memory back? How has it made you feel?

Reconnecting on Facebook has been cathartic, and I love every minute of it. These are the people that have shaped my life and made me who I am. I can only hope they think of me kindly.

Catching Up..

In the midst of a holiday and a change of power here in the USA, I have noticed... well, none of it! I have been working long days and trying to get a workout in after, which gets me home after 8 p.m. It has been challenging, but it has also been interesting. Now if I could just get things balanced out again, life will be swell!

I managed to watch the first episode of The Tudors Saturday night. What an awesome show! I can't believe I hadn't seen it before. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is deadly as King Henry, bringing a passionate, ruthless side of the legend to life. After reading several books and watching many a special about Henry VIII, it is fascinating to see what a fantastic job Showtime has done. I hope to get a chance to watch more of it soon.

Jim and I got our first small comic book order, and I got Boys, Final Crisis, Witchblade, and Sword. It wasn't bad at all, and I think I will be okay with it. Ideally I would like to pick up Fallen Angel and Birds of Prey for the last issues, but I know I can live with the cuts.

My workout partner and I are working to ramp up our exercise regimen, so hopefully I will be dropping all my winter weight soon. Expect to hear much complaining about soreness soon!

Have a good night!

New Comic(s) for January 21

Last week went so fast, and I blogged so little, that I am in shock. My friends and I started a new "Get in Shape" contest, and I have had changes at work, so it has been exciting to say the least. I appreciate all your comments and vow to get caught up on them soon. Tonight I had to help my friend set up his new cell phone before heading home, so I am just now sitting down to relax. It is amazing how crazy life gets.

Jim and I are doing well with very few comics. I have been going back and reading old books and perusing back issues. Jim has undertaken the thankless task of organizing my comic book collection. The whole mess hasn't been organized for at least four years, so it is a total and complete disaster. Jim is still working on getting the books that are on top of boxes into new ones in a semblance of order, so I feel sorry for him. Anyone else in the same boat?

My comic for the week is:

100 Bullets #99

This means next issue is the final one. I don't want it to end!! The only good part of that is being able to give another book a try as I maintain a level of five books a month.

Here are a few books I would have picked up before the cuts.

Birds of Prey #126- which I might actually pick up since the series is ending.

Green Lantern #37- because the different colors fascinate me.

Justice League of America #29- not excited right now about the current stuff. but I have every issue since the late 1960's.

Darkness #74- because I love the Jackie Estacado character.

Punisher Frank Castle Max #66- I miss my Punisher fix.

X-Factor #39- because the baby is being born, I think... the art is killing me here at times.

X-Men Legacy #220- for the return of Rogue storyline.

Fallen Angel #33- which I may also pick up because I believe it is the final issue of the series.

The only other bummer is that I dropped the Superman books in the middle of the storyline. Maybe someday I will pick it up in some fashion in some kind of sale... I just don't know yet.

I apologise for my lack of comment answering in a timely fashion. I am very ashamed right now. I keep promising myself to be better and I keep failing miserably!

Have a wonderful evening! See you back here soon.

Why Isn't This Man a Superstar?!?

When Jim and I went to the Tri-Cities Comicon a few months back, we were fortunate enough to see our friend Jason Metcalf. He is a talented artist who was working with Jim on Space Goat Fine Arts, and continues to pursue a career as a comic book artist. Jason was doing sketches for $20, so I slapped my money down and asked him for a sketch of my hubby as a super hero.

Fast forward a bit, and the idea soured in my head. I told Jason just to not worry about it, but he was kind enough to ask me if I had an alternative in mind. For whatever random reason, the Marvel character Darkhawk was selected. I sent Jason a mildly decent example and didn't worry about it again.

Last week Jason was talking to my hubby and Jim mentioned his birthday was this week. Jason teased him a bit, telling him a surprise was on the way. Bless his heart, Jason paid the shipping and sent Jim the sketch you see before you.

Amazing. Incredible. Fantastic. Awesome.

Those were some of the words my hubby and I used to describe this gorgeous work of art. Jason went far beyond the call of duty and made magic happen. This piece is wonderful.

Which made me wonder, why isn't he a star artist working on a major book? He has the chops and his flare for redesign and detail are mature and well reasoned. Jason can handle a book, and he is talented. What is wrong with this picture!!??!!

At any rate, I wanted to share Jason's wonderful work for Jim's birthday with you. What an amazing gift from a class act. Thank you Jason!

New Comic! for January 14

Here we are at Comics Fairplay, experiencing the joy that is week two of five titles a month. Woo hoo... not. As explained in the previous post, after much soul searching, it was decided that major cutbacks were in order. Because of said cuts, my comic for the week is:

FINAL CRISIS #6 (of 7)

Supposedly the you-know-what really hits the fan, so it should be good reading.

If I get lucky and obtain enough extra money I may pick up two more books. They are:

Army @ Love #6 (of 6)- because it is the last issue of a mini-series that I own the first five of.

Manhunter #38- because it is the final issue of the series and I have all the other ones!

Ones I would have gotten before the big cuts are:

Action Comics #873

Fables #80

Green Arrow Black Canary #16

Nightwing #152

Titans #9

Trinity #33

Witchblade #123

AND...

Punisher War Zone #5 (of 6)- which may end up on the purchase list down the road.

Not getting those eight above-mentioned books is a savings of $23.92, which will pay a good portion of the electric bill. Not nearly as fun, but pretty important!

What are you picking up this week?

Comic Economics- The Comparison

For awhile now, I have been talking about how the price of comics has affected my spending habits. Quite bluntly, the price and the economy have forced me from a 60 comic book a month habit to a five comic book a month habit. While this has been a hard change to make, and may eventually force me out of the hobby for good, I can't stop thinking about what I can buy with the money I have saved, and how it has helped turn around an unacceptable financial situation. Life is livable again, at the cost of a hobby.

Let me give examples of what I have found.

1 comic book at $2.99
OR
3 cans of generic vegetable beef soup at .99 = $2.97
Three meals for one book!


3 comic books at $2.99 = $8.97
OR
1- 24ct package of Cup Noodles Beef flavor at $6.75
24 meals for 3 books!

5 comics books at $2.99 = $14.95
OR
1- 50 pound bag of ice melt = $14.97
The price of not falling and hurting myself on ice is impossible to measure!

8 comic books at $2.99 = $23.92
OR
1 pair of blue jeans at $21.95
Clothes are pretty damn important, right?

12 comic books at $2.99 = $35.88
OR
Monthly electric bill at $34.76
That is a big one, right?

16 comic books at $2.99 = $47.84
OR
Cell phone bill at $49.95
Unfortunately, some form of communication remains a viable expense.

20 comic books at $2.99 = $59.80
OR
1 month of garbage/water bill = $61.32
Another requirement of modern living.

For the price of 65 comic books in one month I can pay all those bills. It is mind boggling, to say the least.

Here is a bigger consideration.

One month of collecting:
60 comic books at $2.99 = $179.40
That is enough money for a car payment, right?

Another consideration:

6 months of comic books at $179.40 = $1076.40
I could buy a flat screen hi-def television.
I could also put extra principal on my house.
That kind of extra money can pay for a trip or at the very least maintain a nice, middle class lifestyle.

So why the hell didn't I cut back sooner?

When comic books were under $2 it was a lot easier to justify. I bought them when they were 20 cents, for goodness sake! I know that the cost of living has skyrocketed, but I also think that the price of luxury items such as comic books have been pushed way over the line. A person has to be making good money or be willing to sacrifice a lot of other things to stay in this habit.

That is why I have changed my life forever by cutting back so much. I don't even feel like the same person anymore. My hobby isn't fun anymore. I have lost my childlike wonder for the medium, which makes me really upset. Don't get me wrong- I will always pick up a couple of books. As long as I am gainfully employed, I consider it my "vice".

I plan to continue to blog, and I hope to find less expensive ways to stay in the mix. I just don't know how yet. I just really felt I had to spell out what the price of a hobby really COSTS. It took a very honest couple of hours on an excel spreadsheet to prove it to myself, but it is all about making ends meet, having a decent lifestyle, and planning for the future. How can I ever consider retiring if I can't put any money away now? Thank God for my 401K, but I know it isn't enough.

Twenty five years from now, will I be using my comic books to keep me warm in the fireplace when I can't afford to heat my house or will I smell the coffee now and make the changes needed to hopefully grow old? Being a grown up sucks. LOL.

What have you found in your collecting and how are you getting around the financial hurdles that having a growingly expensive hobby causes?

Random Thoughts and Musings

It is 7 p.m. and Jim and I are waiting for our DCBS order to come in. It is showing that it has been on a delivery truck since 6:59 a.m. this morning, so for 12 hours now, some poor UPS employee has been out trying to make deliveries. We are hoping to see the order soon as it contains all our comics for December, the last big month we have before the "five books a month" takes effect.

The hold up may be due to heavy flooding and high winds in our area. It has been a crazy last four weeks for weather. First we had below zero temperatures and snow, then more snow and ice. Last week was more snow and lots of ice, and now it is warm enough to flood us all. A friend lost their home today to flooding. They got there in the mid-afternoon and there was two feet of standing water. By the time they left, it was up to their waist. It is a terrible situation.

I truly feel that the economy has changed buying habits, and that includes comics. I look at myself as a prime example. I have been a diehard fangirl for years, and I have always found a way to keep collecting. It has only been the last six months that have realy told the tale. Right now money is so tight that the general population is focusing on having groceries and putting gas in the tank. This is truly the first time I can say that a hobby takes the back seat, and I feel that many other folks feel the same way. Reading your comments here and talking to some of you reinforces that.

Will I start getting more books down the road? Maybe, but probably not. The price is too high and I have other priorities. Once a person starts weaning themselves, it is truly possible to make that separation. My hubby and I focus on the books that we love now. We don't just try books out anymore. We can't take the risk.

On that note, I am going off to find dinner and relax a bit. The last two days at work have been especially busy so it is overdue. Have a wonderful evening!