This has to be the best trip I’ve ever taken to Seattle. So much happened that I’m not sure how to recap it all in one post.

• Got to meet all the Captains from the Discovery Channel’s show “The Deadliest Catch.” Big thanks to PvP readers Cat and Justin who gave me the heads up about the book-signing and provided some wonderful compay.
• Working in the Penny-Arcade offices is awesome. The creativity and energy there is infectious and Jerry and Mike were incredible hosts. Jerry helped me work out some plot details and I got to assist Mike in drawing an upcoming panel of Penny-Arcade
• Mariners game in a box suite. Treated like a real VIP. Someone explain to me why a team named after fishermen have a Moose for a mascot. That makes no sense.
• Jim Demonakos treated Halfpixel like kings. We got premiere placement at the con and a wonderful booth space. The new con location and hotel were top notch. The Emerald City Comicon has grown quite a bit and it was an incredible show.
• Will Shipley refused to take no for an answer when it came to RSVPing “yes” to his swank party at the posh restaurant Elemental. The food, the wine, and the company were top notch. Will really gave us all the star treatment, including a sentimental and slightly drunk toast to creators.

There’s so much more that happened last week, but I’m tired and pressed to remember it all. Perhaps, given enough time to recoup, I will be able to recall the varied details of this blur in my head.

Thank you Seattle. I’ll be back in August for PAX!

Just to keep everyone up to date: my number one priority post ECCC is getting ahead on strips. I am building a buffer starting today and I’m not going to stop until I’m at least a month ahead.

I bought the book Getting Things Done by David Allen and it’s been a great read so far. The ideas within are so simple and yet I can see how they never occur to people. I highly recommend it. There are a ton of software out there to aid you in setting up your own GTD system. I’ll keep you updated on how I’m organizing my cartooning-life as I go.

Last night my father ripped me a new asshole. There’s no other way to describe the litany of judgement and disappointment that came out of his lips. For those of you cartoonists out there lamenting that fact that your parents don’t get or approve of what you do…let me inform you that the opposite faction has it no easier. There are times, in fact, that I wish my father didn’t have such a firm mental grip on what I do for a living.

There is a deficit; a hole I have to dig myself out of. That has to happen first before I can work ahead, I know that. But it’s more clear than ever how important this effort is to the future of PvP and my career as a cartoonist.

I met a lot of great people this weekend. PvP readers who have been with me from the beginning. Fans I recognize from previous years visits. It’s a good feeling to know you have so many people in your corner. And it hurts just as much to know that there are those out there gunning for me to fail.

I am happy to disappoint the naysayers and I thank you in your efforts to help me thwart them.