I'm glad the program went over so well. I felt Friday was really the big day, more than Saturday. Thanks to Carlos, Gus, Mako and Sydney for being a great audience and for sharing their great work, too. I had a lot of fun!

I'm so glad you still use the books. That's awesome news. Jane is, of course, the creator of Vogelein, a delightful book you should all be reading... and one that never fails to grab my students' attention when I bring it in.

In fact-- I don't think even Jane knows this-- years ago it was my student Maia that brought Vogelein to my attention, she found it listed in an old copy of PREVIEWS and asked if I could get it for her. It wasn't something I found and brought in; it was a book that she and her BFF Brianna asked me to get just on the strength of the art they saw in PREVIEWS. I think that was the solicitation for #3. So I did, and was thrilled when I met Jane at APE a few weeks later and could get the back issues too. I snapped up the whole mini-series and was pleased to discover that Ms. Irwin is every bit as wonderful as her book. She did a magnificent entry for our scrapbook and also wrote the kids a long supportive letter that I used as a handout for the next few years.

Not to get all gushy. But people should know this stuff. In a just world, Ms. Irwin would be hugely wealthy. When my students see her books they lunge at them.

Jane, if you want to shoot me an e-mail (under Contact Us over in the sidebar) with a current address I'll put you on our mailing list and get you some newer samples. Bri and Maia are in their junior year of college now, after all (Brianna actually turned pro-- her first job was a promo book for the All-City Marching Band.) Anyway, you should see some of the new crew's books.

You are totally my hero, and I wish I had the time and guts and devotion that you show to your students. They are SO lucky to have you.

I use Alki Community Comics and Doodle, Inc in almost every one of my comics workshops -- usually at least 5-10 per year -- so you can let your artists and writers know that their work is getting exposure at libraries all over Michigan.

Jane

Right now I'm struggling to work with a local high school administration so I can interview students about their interested in anime and manga. I'm afraid it will never happen unless I pester them constantly but I.....don't like to be a pest. Sigh. Politeness sucks.

And, now you are certified as a bus driver, too. You never know when that might be useful.

What really touches me is how this happened because of people who CARE- you (and the people who helped you) and Ms. Medley, who obviously wants to help budding artists and knew how to motivate them. I wish I'd had such supportive people around when I was growing up and was "just the weird kid who likes comics." Thanks to both of you, and keep up the good work.

Isn’t that where everyone gets out of their seats in the car and runs around to different ones while they’re at a traffic light? I can’t even make that work metaphorically for what you were going through.

Running in circles in a frenzied manner without real accomplishment or forward motion. You have NO IDEA how much effort and aggravation I spent on the transportation issue, trying to score a van or a bus that we ended up not even needing. Believe me, what's recounted above is the streamlined version. That's the metaphor.

But the school visit itself? Yeah, I'm definitely putting it in the plus column. And Hayden and Jennifer both assured me Linda did too.

And how is that a Chinese fire drill? Isn't that where everyone gets out of their seats in the car and runs around to different ones while they're at a traffic light? I can't even make that work metaphorically for what you were going through. It's your term, though, so go with it!