BACHELOR PAD BLUE*

So, I'm settling into my life in South Beloit.  It consists of visiting the library, cooking food, drawing, and sleeping as much as possible.  ("Thank the Lord for the Nighttime.")  It's not so bad, really.  Here's a little tour of my new home:

Drawing table.

Corner with headboard.

"Entertainment Center."  (I get CBS, and a weird station from Wisconsin...)

My Dad's Chair.

Library haul, on bed. 

Pictured: Charles M. Schulz: Conversations, Secret Identity (Joe Shuster and Craig Yoe), Duchamp biography by Calvin Tomkins, Drinking at the Movies (Julia Wertz, highly recommended!), Abandoned Cars (Tim Lane), misc. Dan Clowes collections, Sayings of Zen Master Joshu, Art of the Postmodern Era (Irving Sandler).

View from bathroom window, early morning.

View from Kitchen window, morning.

Warning: Skweezils Have Been Sighted In This Area.

Don't Forget!

Decal on inside of medicine cabinet, bathroom.

More: medicine cabinet interior.

Shower stall sign.

View from bathroom window, daylight.

"Work" Table.  (No one ever accused me of being too organized!)

"No Pets"

Self-portrait.

*Hommage à Patrick Porter.

SOUTH BELOIT SOCIAL CLUB

This is my new pal, Buster.  I met him in the alley by my house.

He has big feet.

And a winning smile.

This, my friends, is Buster's nose.

Thank God for cats.

SCENES FROM SOUTH BELOIT

So last Friday, I lost the place I was sleeping and had to find something else.  In desperation, I ended up taking a tiny apartment in the town of South Beloit, Illinois, just across Turtle Creek from Wisconsin.  It's time's like these that make a man wonder "How?", "Why?"

* * *

MYSTERIOUS MILWAUKEE

So, I'm just going day by day. A few weeks back I was happy to find that the 2010 Milwaukee Zine Fest was coming up soon, so I immediately signed on. Milwaukee is only about an hour from where I sleep, and I've always had a curiosity about it. Even though I grew up in Chicago (90 miles from Milwaukee) I've only been there 3 or 4 times ever. And it remains kind of a mystery to me. So I thought, zines, Milwaukee... let's go.

The Fest was held in the Falcon's Nest club in the Riverwest neighborhood (The club is home to the fourth oldest bowling alley in America!). Walking inside I was reminded of why I love the Midwest so much. Down to earth, somewhat lost in time, wood paneling. I set up and the show began.

Falcon's Club mailbox.

World War 3 Illustrated table et al.

The Spit and a Half corner.

I thought this was amusing.

Denver homie Kelly Shortandqueer was there sporting his mind-blowing Justin Bieber tee.

On the way home I tried to take a picture of the World's Largest Can of Chili from the highway.  That yellowish blotch in the left-center is it.  Maybe next time I'll get a better pic.

Anyhow, the Fest was a blast.  Everybody was so nice.  It almost made me wanna move to Milwaukee!

* * *