Since it is dark in the mornings when I am having breakfast, I don’t see the backyard birds for inspiration. Instead, I see crows out and about, getting into mischief.

I read that this mall in Nanaimo was closing soon, and got fixated on its name Cyber City. All weekend I joked to Manien that I was a robot, trying to make my way back to Cyber City, where the robots come from. When we were making xmas decorations with the niece and nephews I made a robot decoration somewhat like the drawing below.

As it turns out, Cyber City was an “adventure centre” with lazer tag, go karts and a pretty deluxe space themed mini golf course. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to play a game.

Then today I was walking up the hill and saw that the condo builders have finally put it to Schlockbuster, and they will be closing at the end of December. Sad to see them go, as I was a regular since they opened six or seven years ago. Here is a drawing from Fire Walk with Me, a movie I rented from Schlockbuster recently.

Also, coincidentally this week, I have been digging this Diamond Rings guy, who has a super 80s influenced sound (and look). Bonus that the video is low fi, shot in the back alleys of Toronto, and has kind of goofy dancing.

New True Loves 3. I fret about things like, “I should use more black.” and “Are the fabric patterns too detailed for the rest of the panel?” “Does anything happen on this page?”

I was away in Ontario last week, and though I didn’t get a True Loves done, I did do this 10 page comic. An unexpected stay in Thunder Bay and a five hour flight home gave me the time to finish it up. I am not even sure where to post a comic like this any more. I guess I could put it on webcomicsnation with my other autobiographical things like the YEAR 40. I also have the unusual desire to print it up as a mini comic.

The other day at my day job there was a day that encouraged everyone to dress up in 80s outfits. And the 80s having been a formative period for me, I couldn’t help but wonder what people who are 20 years old think of when they say “I love 80s music!” I mean, Men Without Hats’ “Rhythm of Youth” was the first album I ever bought (on vinyl). I loved all the Duran Durans, Thompson Twins, the Yaz and the Alphaville and the Flocks of Seagulls. But I also loved the Talking Heads, the Cures, the Kate Bushes. Not to mention the Tom Waits, the Nick Caves and the Butthole Surfers. I guess it gave me an excuse to appreciate that there is never just one thing going on in any given time, regardless of what the primary narrative later becomes.

Here is my homemade Frankie Says tshirt.

This video makes me sad that I missed the Men Without Hats when they were in town earlier this year.

This video makes me love videos. Love the 80s. Anyone who makes sweeping dismissals of a decade is dumb.

This video reminds me of the summer of 1991, listening to CFNY’s top 1002 Songs of ALL TIME. And this was number one.

And Nick Cave.

New True Loves 3! I think my birthday last week derailed my drawing a bit. And I am going to be in Ontario next week so that is going to throw the schedule off further. Maybe I should try to draw some travel comics while I’m there.

Also this past weekend there was a Christmas party. So I spent Saturday picking up my new suits (see below) and getting my first professional haircut in two years. So I was feeling all fancy. There was dancing at the party, and I had not been dancing anywhere except the living room (or the occasional Ed-tormenting dance at the comic jams) in ages. Many people don’t know this but I love to dance. My dancing is completely ridiculous but people enjoy it. It is not cool dancing at all, but it is fun. Older women wanted to dance with me, people stayed longer than they intended just to watch me dance. Seriously! So I danced for four hours or more, shut the party down, had the best time.

Here are a couple of drawings I did of trucks. There are a lot of ridiculously large trucks in my neighbourhood, and I thought it would be great to draw dumb jokes about them.

And here is something I drew when I was feeling crabby and stressed.