Since our beloved cat Scamp died last month, our remaining cat Mugsy has been more vocal and more needy than ever before. He’s not lonely in the literal sense, as I work from home every day and am available to give him the attention he craves, and he and Scamp weren’t a bonded pair nor … Continue reading “A Friend for Mugsy”
There’s something about the term “magic system” that takes me out of a fantasy setting. This does not apply to roleplaying games, where there needs to be a working game system for magic effects and everything else. I mean when someone uses the term “magic system” to describe how magic works in a narrative world. … Continue reading “No Need For Magic Systems”
This weekend I’ll be exhibiting at a show I’ve never done before, Northeast Comic Con! Being a vendor at a new show always carries a risk, but they’re usually worth it. New experiences are invaluable additions to a creator’s toolbox, and new conventions provide the opportunity for them in droves; from meeting new people to … Continue reading “Northeast Comic Con”
Some but not all friend groups have a hierarchy. There’s the leader of the pack and, farthest down the ladder, is the one everyone makes fun of. I’m familiar with that position because, for much of my youth across several friend circles, I was on the lowest rung of that social ladder. And man, did … Continue reading “Friend Hierarchies”
I signed my son up for his school’s Talent Show this year. I’d been pressuring him for weeks to think about it, since he’s the equivalent of Sam I Am; hesitant to try new things despite a good chance he’s going to love the thing he’s resisting. Finally, with the deadline being today, last night … Continue reading “The Talent Show”
Now that we’re a little further into the new year I feel like it’s time to share where I’ll be traveling for conventions! I’m not a guest or panelist at any of these shows (except for ConnectiCon’s Death Match) so come on by and chat with me at my table in the vendor hall or … Continue reading “My 2025 Convention Schedule”
Here in Massachusetts it’s the week of February Break. It’s like Spring Break, only in February. Pretty self-explanatory. My 10-year-old son has the week off and I, the parent who is fortunate enough to be able to work from home, is responsible for entertaining him. My sense of time is totally wrecked and my work … Continue reading “Poured Into The Gaps”
My wife and I used to have three cats; Rascal, Scamp, and Mugsy. Rascal died in 2017 of a heart condition. She was 12. Scamp died one week ago today, after a sudden and severe illness. He was 16. Only Mugsy remains now. We have no idea how old he is, and he’s our most … Continue reading “And Then There Was Mugsy”
On Tuesday morning we awoke to find our beloved cat, Scamp, in physical distress. We dropped everything and rushed him to an emergency veterinary clinic. There was a mass in his stomach so significant that they couldn’t determine where it began, and fluid buildup in his lungs. He was pale, physically weak, his heart rate … Continue reading “Scamp”
I find myself facing a relatively trivial dilemma for an event next week, and frankly it feels nice to have something trivial to worry about in 2025 for once. The French metal band Alcest is coming to Boston next Wednesday. I first saw them open for Enslaved when they came around almost ten years ago. … Continue reading “To Go or Not To Go”
