I just spent the last week recovering from the week prior.

It all started two weekends ago when I attended a 2 day bachelor party, the likes of which you can see more about over at Penny Arcade TV. After about a half a day’s rest, Kris and I jumped in his packed car and drove from Seattle to his new old home of Los Angeles. We got a day and a half of resting from the road trip before we got on a plane and flew across the country to Boston, MA where we attended the 65th annual Reuben Weekend and we were introduced to the world of the National Cartoonists Society.

Now, while I was in Boston, I injured myself and caught a pretty nasty cold. So I’ve spent the last week trying to recover. And that’s why you haven’t heard anything form me. I’m kind of mending right now.

How did I injure myself? Catching a kiss. No joke.

See I was sharing a room with Kris and Dave Kellett, and one evening Dave was on iChat with his family. And Dave’s family likes to blow him kisses over the computer and he runs around the room catching them. It’s pretty cute. And Kris and I got into the act as well. Of course, I decided I was going to go big with my catch and fall over the side of the bed. Which I did. For comedy.

But I kind of miscalculated just how high the bed was, and how high my bounce off it would be. And I came crashing down on my right shoulder with a crunch. At first it barely hurt, but as the days go on the stiffer my shoulder gets and the more pain I’m in until it feels like there is a dagger being jabbed under my shoulder blade when I move the wrong way. I can move it. I can lift it. I carried my suitcases home no problem. But it hurts like a sum-bitch right now. Almost as much as my pride.

So here I’ve been. Lying in bed, fighting a cold. Praying to god I don’t cough or sneeze for fear of the pain it will cause in my shoulder. I’m hurting. I’m broken. And I’m feeling pretty old.

So please forgive me. I’ve been hobbling from the bed to the home office computer table trying to scribble out strips as the week goes on. I knew my time away would eat my buffer, but I did not expect to return so beaten up. My plan of spending last week rebuilding has instead been spent moaning in a sick bed. But I’m feeling better now.

Next week looks MUCH better.

The doctor is pretty sure I cracked a rib or two diving for that kiss. She found the cause for my injury to be both admirable but unadvisable. I have never cracked a rib before, so it is a shock to me that the treatment for this injury is to “take it easy” and “keep taking deep breaths” while “managing pain.”

I told the doctor that it sounded a lot like what I do normally.

Of course, now I have the aid of prescription drugs to help with the pain management. And they work pretty well. In the meantime, I have called forth some of my own side-kicks to help me keep the content on PvP fresh. And despite the fact that I’ve injured my drawing arm, I still plan to work while I recover. The doctor actually suggested I do so to keep my shoulder mobile and “unfrozen.”

So keep in mind that you have good reason to return here each day this week and next. I’ll be posting artwork, blogs and some awesome guest strips all week long. I still have to give you my thought on the Reuben weekend and my first introduction to the National Cartoonist Society. I have it on good authority that we have new products that will soon be up for sale as well. So come back. Stay tuned. Refresh.

Ouch.