If I’m reading this correctly, Fraction’s FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE is the top selling graphic novel at Khepri.com this week…?  Kinda crazy considering how long it’s been out, but hey — you can get it there for UNDER $10!  $9.10.  Order in link.

promshocker

Originally uploaded by Sanders teh Destroyer.

Prom this year was AWESOME. Nikol and Ron are twin dynamos — they ironed out all last year’s wrinkles and then upped their game. We had a blast.

I am, however, WIPED OUT. Like, more tired than I’ve been in… since the triathlon, maybe? Pregnancy really takes it out of you.

Laurenn’s photo set here.

• Claudimus Maxiumus (above) is sick. He’s at the vet’s until Tuesday. Think get well thoughts.
• I’d like to move into this apartment, please.
• Fraction and Klock on Comic Geek Speak, Episode 256.
• 23 weeks along, our kid apparently looks something like this. (Only, you know, less like that kid’s parents and more like us. But humanoid, at long last.)
• All atwitter.
• I wish we had an IKEA nearby.
• Heard an NPR interview with this guy a week or so ago and I keep thinking about it. Too many books on the stack right now, though, so I’ll have to add it to the list and hope to get to it at some point.
• Best e-mail of the day, from Laurenn: “I dreamt that you met Shawn White at Aspen, while we were in line for the bathroom. He had a goatee. You were VERY COOL about it, and not a dork at all.”

I am madly in love with little bugbert. Here’s one reason why:

He is…

Iron Man

(Via Courtney’s blog.)

Having made her name in the periphery of the comic book world thus far, Kelly Sue DeConnick steps more into the forefront with the next installment in the 30 Days of Night series, Eben & Stella. With the first issue of the mini series out since last Wednesday, DeConnick stopped by to chat about the book and other things that interest her.

More in link.

(Yes; I caught that manga was the “periphery” of the comic book world, but I suspect it was meant more to refer to the role of adapter versus that of original author. Anyway, I like this interview better than any other I’ve done thus far, so that’s how I’m choosing to read it.)

ETA: 30 Days got BoingBoing’d!

I think I have a thing for watching television shows go down in flames. The only reason I was sorry to see STUDIO SIXTY ON THE SUNSET STRIP go was that it meant I had to stop bitching about it. Last night’s Heroes finale, however, left me absolutely giddy. It was baaaad. I mean awwwwful. I couldn’t look away!

It was heaven.

This morning I was talking to Tobi, Michael and John about it on e-mail — each of us cackling in our own way (actually, I think Tobi took the high road) — when Michael produced this gem:

In my ending, it’s Sylar vs. everybody using their powers in cool ways. Peter is working it and Nikki comes in and Molly is saying “He’s over there, now he’s over there.” And everyone one says, “No shit Walker, we can see him.” Then grandma gets peeved because Sylar is going to kill Peter before he has a chance to explode so she comes in with her super sonic scream power (just like that fat lady in Kung Fu Hustle) and Sylar starts bleeding from the ears with his super hearing. Then just when Peter starts to go nuclear, the invisible man shows up and punches Peter unconscious.

And…. scene.

I would totally watch Michael’s show.

(I should add that I do admire the Heroes team for at least committing to an ending. I half expected a cliffhanger right at the moment of meltdown.)

So Fraction made a guest appearance on Fanboy Radio tonight and I guess Scott’s wife, Mac, liked 30 Days of Night: Eben & Stella #1 (Nice!) so they put me on the phone for a few minutes and we had a little telephonic double date of sorts. Cute, right? I thought so. And Mac was funny and they asked first so I had some warning. All very righteous and supportive and cool…

Except for the part where I got totally self-conscious and — I suspect — sounded a bit like a high school girl on some kind of ecstasy-coke highball. (I think I squealed. I’m not sure. I think I did. You’ll have to listen to know for sure — but don’t tell me…)

So here are the things I wish I’d said:

They asked what comics I’d been reading/would recommend of late. So, okay: our comics come twice a month from Midtown and except for the IDW ones that Fraction puts in the bathroom for me and that books he writes that I make an effort to dig out and read, for the last few months the box has been going straight into his office and I haven’t said a peep. Besides books on pregnancy, I’m not reading much of anything right now. (I still haven’t finished Moneyball, even though I find it fascinating, and Special Topics in Calamity Physics is sitting right next to my desk, unopened. But are these comics? No, they are not.) So what did I do? I *blanked*.

In my bit of revisionist history, let me now go back and say what I should have said?

“Oh, gosh guys. I’ve fallen months behind in my reading. Can I just give you a few favorites? I really liked what I read of Jason Aaron’s The Other Side. Scott Pilgrim. Lady Snowblood (I have a soft spot for Pinky Violence and Women’s Vengeance as a genre). I went back not too awfully long ago and started re-reading Planetary. Man, I love that book. Black and White. Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her. Kamikaze Girls. (Okay, the novel, that one, but it’s shelved with my comics, so there.) Oh, and — duh! Casanova and Iron Fist! I adore Cass, but I knew I would. Iron Fist caught me completely by surprise. I’m actually kind of antsy to get my hands on the next issue. I’d mention Fraction’s Spider-Man Annual here, but if I name another one of his books you won’t take me seriously…”

(Hemingway and Irving are my all-time favorite writers, but Fraction might be #3. )

They also asked me if they could expect more comics from me and I mentioned NORMAL JEAN and a few Viz projects. Did I take that opportunity to plug the next 24seven? I did not.

I am a ninny.

But you should listen anyway. Because I was only on for 5 minutes and Fraction did great. (I assume so, anyway. I was downstairs so I haven’t listened yet. He always does, though, so it’s a safe bet.)

If I had a voice like Ellis I could say stupid ninny things and still sound like a scholar. Maybe next time I’ll lower my pitch and fake an accent.

Yeah.

Edited to add: I’m not suggesting Ellis says ninny things! Rather that that voice could sell anything.

Coming this summer from Image Comics and Ivan Brandon. I’ve got a little 4-page story in it called “Leap” (again with Muscles MacGunshow). It’s full of friends, too — Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Seth Peck, Phil Hester, Carla Speed McNeil, Ben Templesmith, Jason Aaron, Justin Randall and Jason Latour — so look for it.

I’m running out of clever titles for posts like this. Can you tell?

• Just did an interview on 30 Days of Night: Eben & Stella with Samuel Moyerman of Broken Frontier. Keep an eye out for that one – they’re running one of my favorite splash pages from issue #2. (Fraction says he thinks #1 is coming out this week. I’m not sure how to check. Isn’t that pathetic?) (Also, I’m terrified to read the reviews. Don’t send them to me, okay?)
• Spoke to Viz yesterday about a couple of upcoming projects. Good news a-comin’! More as soon as they’re officially announced.
• Hearty congratulations to Snr. Ellis on his Eagle Awards! Everybody’s favorite curmudgeon is disconcerted by the sweep, of course, but the rest of us are pleased as proverbial punch.
• Fraction got me a green peapod necklace from Rachel Sudlow for Mother’s Day. I adore it. I got a card from my dad and a ‘Morning Mom phone call from Xtop, then Laurenn, Lauren, Fraction and I went to Room 39 for a Mother’s Day brunch the highlight of which was an asparagus trio that both pleased and amused me and the bouncy little fetus. All this, and I have yet to change a diaper. (Speaking of diapers, have I asked you all if you know anything about g-diapers? Forgive me if I have, please; I’m a little absent-minded these days. I’m sure that’s Darwin making sure I don’t think too much about what I’m in for.)
• Harold and Fraction went and picked up the kid’s dresser yesterday too — woo hoo! The rug arrived last week and we’ve had the crib for months, so as soon as we can get the extra furniture out of that room we can begin to figure out the new arrangement.
• NPR tells me Pink Martini has a new CD out tomorrow!! I so hope they come through town again. (We’ve seen them play with the symphony here twice and twice I swooned.)
• The WP editing page has stopped loading correctly for me for some reason. I’m doing this in HTML right now and I shouldn’t have to.
• Twin sweethearts Laurenn and Lauren helped me clear all the junk out of the dining room and start organizing the basement last night. It was a crappy job — or a series of crappy jobs — and they were positively delightful and upbeat about it. I’ve gushed my thank yous already, but I can’t resist throwing another one in here. I’m reminded what great friends I have.
• Called Pop for Mother’s Day to see how he was doing. He’d taken some cards out to the cemetery for Nana — including one I sent. I asked him if she liked it. “Well,” he said, “she didn’t complain.” I love him so much.
• Once the garage is painted, we’re going to put a little rose bush in the backyard in Nana’s honor, at Pop’s request. I think it’s a lovely gesture.
• Girl Dork moment: Rebecca just told me about Martha Stewart’s new craft line at Michael’s. I’m beside myself with jealousy of anyone who’s already been shopping. Our closest Michael’s is in Overland Park. Bah!
• Okay, Mama and Papa Fraction are arriving in town today to spend the week with us, shopping and doing home repairs, etc. (Fraction and his dad are going to put the crib together!) and I have much to do before they arrive. Ciao!

This high chair is on sale — 55% off, today only. We get free shipping through Amazon, so I’m thinking about taking advantage of the sale, but as there aren’t many reviews listed on Amazon.com, I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about this particular model. The two reviews that are posted (of other colors) are very positive.

Any thoughts?

(Okay, the color is an issue. I like it, but if they were all on sale, I’d get the “Colonial” — it would match the rest of our diningroom, which is full of dark wood. But for a $120 savings, I’ll suck it up. I’m sure it’ll look fine and I can paint or stain it myself for far less than $120, eh?)

*NEW* Baby Daily Deal: Euro-Baby Family High Chair, Natural
http://www.amazon.com/Euro-Baby-Family-High-Chair-Natural/dp/B000F1QVGQ
List Price……. $219.99
Today’s Price…. $99.00
You Save……… $120.99 (55% off)
(Previous Price: $219.99) Family is Geuther’s bestselling highchair and among the most sought after highchairs in Europe. Its attractive and stylish design, along with its practicality and durability, fuels its popularity. Made of wood, Geuther chairs take your child from infancy to adulthood. Geuther’s unique ‘adjustment’ knobs let you quickly adjust the chairs without tools and make the Geuther chairs recognizable all over Europe. Geuther is one of the only European high chairs NOT made in Slovenia. Geuther manufactures all their products in Mitwitz, Germany with a focus on excellent quality and the guarantee for safety. All Geuther chairs adhere to the German GS and TÜV safety requirements.

EDITED TO ADD: Rachel says she’s got a friend with the same chair and it’s awesome. Yay, firsthand endorsements. Courtney also suggests we might need to come up with a strap/belt solution for it later as it doesn’t seem to come with one.

EDITED TO ADD: T2 and Susan ordered it for us! Happy impending birthday, kiddo. You’re all hooked up with a high chair. (Thank you, Terry and Susan!)