Uber-Zen.

In 1993 I did a round of conventions and small shows in the Midwest. These were the only shows and conventions I've ever attended or done. I've simply not had the time or the finances to do more. To be honest, it was mostly the finances. Generally speaking, shows always cost more to attend than I'd make while there. Cons weren't for making money and getting a financial boost. Cons were a party to attend. Cons were the place to network, make connections and a few friends. Some long lasting. Cons were a great place for doing these things and by this definition, my con experiences were 100% positive and a runaway success. I wish I'd done more. I wish that I could do more. Perhaps one day I will. Until then the Internet is a great substitute for attending a con for us small press creators. In 1993 the Internet was barely a smile on it's daddy's face and cons were the creators best, and often only, tool to use to connect with readers, publishers and other creators. Thankfully it no longer requires a few grand every couple of weeks to re-connect with old friends and network with new people. Although cons are no longer the only game in town, for which I'm very thankful, I'd still love to do one every now and then. Even one every year or two would cool.

I've never been much of a Three Stooges fan. I've seen their work and enjoyed them "enough" but never thought them particularly funny or entertaining. A few days ago I found myself wanting to watch the Three Stooges. Bad. I'd been surfing the web, searching for the cures to cancer, AIDs and whatnot, as I'm oft to do, and somehow I started reading about The Stooges and the actors who portrayed them. Six? Seven? Reading through their history, singly and combined, I found myself fascinated by their story and the work they created. The progression, the work, the ideas both failed and successful, I found completely fascinating. Are the Stooges funny? I'm not really sure. Were they geniuses worthy of all the adulation they get and more besides? Yes. They really, really are. Of course, suddenly deciding that I wanted to see the Three Stooges and actually getting to see the Three Stooges are two different things. In my search for Stooge I did what I've come to do whenever I need obscure film-y stuff. I called the Warrior Buddha. If anyone I know would have any copies of the Stooges it would be him. He didn't, but he used to and he directed me to where they'd gone. Or who they'd been given to. A certain problem struck. They were all on VHS and my VHS players were history. So a new search has begun. One to get another VHS player so I can watch the Stooges. I can't help it. I wanna' see. I wanna' see what I think now that I'm older and not quite as stuck-up, arrogant and cynical as I was. (Kinda', sorta'.)

Until I get another VHS player, until I find the Stooges on DVD ... Until then, I get this:



The Internet is a wonderful thing.

I'm beat. Tired. Wiped out. I need to get some rest, relax and do nothing (as much as possible) for a few days at least. Of course, it doesn't help that I have to work until 10PM tonight, nor does it help that I'm generally one of the laziest people you could ever be unfortunate enough to cross paths with. I hope to spend the next couple of days vegging out. I'd like to do a bit of fasting. It helps me clear my head. Makes me all uber-zen. Just a few days not to think. Not to think about budgets and orders and the economy and ... anything. The opportunity to re-charge, de-stress and re-focus. That's what I want. Yep. That's it. Right there. Just give me some coffee and a few books to read and as much quiet time as possible.

Shuuuush. I'm preparing to zen.

* Visit the Official Three Stooges web site here.