Originally published February 24, 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1110
Went out to the Left Coast again last week. I wasn’t out there long enough to do one of my journals, but there was some interesting and curious stuff that went on, so I’ll tell you about it after the fact.
Elisabeth Sladen, who portrayed Sarah Jane Smith–arguably the most popular “Doctor Who” companion of all time (certainly the only one ever to get her own ongoing TV series)–passed away today of cancer.
People tend to say that one Doctor or another was “their” Doctor, but Sarah Jane was always my companion. She was the one accompanying the Doctor when I first encountered him, and she was the standard against which all the others were measured. I just adored Sarah Jane and always hoped to have a chance to meet the woman who incarnated her. Never had the chance. I hear tell she was wonderful with the fans at conventions. She will be missed. To quote the Doctor’s last line in “School Reunion,” “Good-bye…my Sarah Jane.”
PAD
At least this one I had answers to.
Caroline’s female cat, Fig, is about eight months old. This morning Caroline came down to my office and said, “I’m worried about Fig.” I said, “Why?” She said, “Fig is making weird yowling sounds and lying on the floor with her front down and her butt in the air. Why is her butt in the air?”
One fifteen minute introduction to the concept of “in heat” later…
PAD
My eldest daughter, Shana, turns thirty today. Those of you who remember my carrying her around in an infant backpack at conventions can feel suitably old now.
PAD
Originally published February 17, 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1109
I go to movies for any number of reasons—indeed, probably for the same reasons that you go.
Because it’s got someone in it I like.
Because the director or (in very rare instances) the writer is someone whose work I enjoy.
Because the subject matter is of interest.
Because the trailer looked good. (Here’s a general rule of thumb: If the trailer’s entertaining, you have a 50/50 shot at a good film. If the trailer’s lousy, you have almost zero chance of a worthwhile movie.)
Because it got good word of mouth.
Because someone I know is in it.
Because it’s there.
Because the kids wanted to see it.
Up until recently, that was pretty much all of them. But now I’ve got a brand new reason.
Social observation. Going to a film in order to watch, not the movie, but the audience reaction.
And it was because of the latter two reasons that I actually found myself at a local box office saying five words that I never thought I’d hear myself say:
“Two for Dumb and Dumber.”
By the time you’re raising your fourth child, you’d think that you’d be prepared for any question your child might toss at you.
Out of the blue today, Caroline–all of age eight–said, “Daddy? If a girl kicks a boy in the nuts, is that cliche or just awkward?”
I had no answer for that.
PAD
Originally published February 10, 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1108
Long ago, in a industry far, far away…
Chapter 6:
…As the
Distributor
Alliance witnessed the
creation of the Death World and the
imminent collapse of the direct market, there
was—unbeknownst to anyone—something new waiting in the
wings. The Last of the Jepi Knights, young Loot Streetwalker, was
being trained by Jepi Master Coda in the ways of the Sales Force, not realizing
his imminent call to arms… .
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