The ONE time I have 2 hours of scheduled peace for the opening hours of the store, it somehow decides to be the busiest Thursday that ever Thursday'd.

Wild work.

I have much to consider.

Today has been a wild one as far as my brain and emotional state go. Like, I'm fine. Nothing worrisome happened. My morning walks are fantastic for that. Because yesterday was kind of shitshow lol. But today? I was offered a huge emotional kindness, to a degree I simply never considered for myself.

A lone pink and white acrylic nail on the sidewalk.

They were going hard in the park last night.

So. As I posted earlier, I was at the Battlehawks home game on Sunday. It was a wild ride.

But an odd thing also happened while I was at the dome. I was recognized by 3 different people as "Fleet from The Wizard's Wagon." Makes me feel like I'm actually making an impact here in St. Louis.

Photo of a viewing screen showing the final result of a UFL football game. Birmingham Stallions 30 - St. Louis Battlehawks 34

Today's Battlehawks game was nuts. But a W is a W.

This week, my primary Bad Idea comics customer came in and said that's he's finally had enough of their shit. He cut a bunch of titles (he's gonna pick up stuff that is past the current FOC though because he is a responsible and thoughtful patron) and I love that for me. And also me.

You know... I actively enjoy bringing in small press comics in my store, but sometimes you creators love to block your own sales with these insane titles. Just a few asterisks to replace a few letters in your slur title will really go a long way for marketability.

I wish it was a Snorlax. But I think it was actually some kind of youth branded athletics ball. There was a logo on the back, but I had no interest in investigating further.

Picture of a blue ball making this 😑 face sitting in the grass.

Same, blue ball that was lost in the park. Same.

Reached my third weight loss milestone today. I should be happy, yeah? And I am, to a degree. But it's also bittersweet. Lots of reasons for that, but the most pressing one is that soon, I'll hit my final target. Then, I'll have to be careful not to obsess about maintaining my weight moving forward.

I only have access to 1 song now, but I'll never forget her voice and ukele. And her energy. And what she meant to everyone. And so, I went. And I talked. And tears came. Then I brushed the leaves and dirt off of her stone and said goodbye. But I'll be back to visit again much sooner next time. 4/4

Close to 1000 people showed up to her funeral. She was only 22. She was really loved by a lot of people. And she is an incredible person. A wonderful smile, and such a beautiful voice. She used to sing. She had these videos on MySpace that I used to go back to for years after her passing. 3/4

She seemed happy. She was handing out flyers for an event. We talked for a bit, and we went out separate ways... and then she went missing. She had been battling mental illnesses, quietly for years. I'll spare you the details of what happened next. But her funeral was the following week. 2/4

On my walk today, I decided to take a detour and go visit an old friend of mine. We we're particularly close friends, but we saw each other a lot because of our intersecting friend groups. Her name is Dora. The last time I saw her in person was maybe a day or two after my birthday in Feb 2008. 1/4

A photo of a plastic bag stuck in a tree branch

There were a lot of butterflies out in the park today. But I didn't take any pictures of them.

Hmmmm. I think the worst part about being consistent at working out in a public space is that eventually, people start talking to you. But for folks who crave social contact? Go to a park every day, get your steps in, and make some new friends in week.

Bad Idea Corp continues to be one of the most annoying publishers to order for in comics. Because what do you mean I can only order a bundle of 25 for one book? What do you mean that this Kickstarter comic has 39 covers and most of them are a different interior page?

This also goes for Vault and Mad Cave too.

Based on nothing. But I feel positive that someone is leaking/stealing Image's order data from Lunar and targeting low-ordered number 1s to pump the speculation market the past few weeks. And I'm sick of it.

Image and/or Lunar. Please get your house in order.

Thank you.

While not the focus of your post, I find it to be endlessly interesting whenever someone mentions that they were a part of a Little Shop of Horrors school production.

Ok. So, after a few more thoughts. I think I'm settled on the outcome. For DC KO. I think we do get an actual winner. But I think the winner doesn't take home the prize. So I think the actual winner is Lex. But I think Superboy Prime ends up taking the prize.

That's my final answer.

Each week, I change my mind on who will win the DC KO Tournament. 1st guess, Barda. Last week, Joker. Before that? Luthor. Then I realized the rules don't matter. Batman could probably return. Yesterday, I was thinking Booster. But now? I'm thinking Time Trapper. Be it Doomsday or Superboy Prime.

Thanks for sharing and passing the information around. Theta was found alive and safe in a Chicago hospital.

Trans people, especially trans women, face disproportionate risks of violence, and her friends and family are extremely concerned for her safety.

Please share widely, especially in St. Louis and Chicago.
Our community keeps each other safe, help us bring her home.

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Missing Poster depicting missing person. Name: Theta Hughes Age 26 Height: 5'11 Race: caucasian Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue "Last seen in a lilac lululemon puffer, green button up sweater, blue stripes pants and brown ugg like snow boots" STL AND CHICAGO All LEADS PLEASE CONTACT 314-682-8496

A Security Cam capture of missing person, Theta Hughes, seen from behind wearing the clothing mentioned in previous Missing Poster.

Sharing on behalf of a good friend:

"Hey St. Louis and Chicago friends please keep an eye out!!!!

A beloved member of our community went missing after taking the Amtrak from STL to Chicago."

If you have seen her or have any information, please contact:
314-682-8496

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Sometimes, I think about properly writing about my experiences as a comics retailer. But truthfully, it's really not all that interesting... save for the never-ending battle to love comics in an industry that actively tries to make you hate them. But at that point, I'd just be logging therapy.

I've made a critical error in reading The Power Fantasy 13 before finishing reading the rest of my stack of comics today.

The world I lived in before reading the end of that issue no longer exists.

I'm not sure anything else that I read this week can top this issue.

I think you should get it.