I've been meaning to tell you this....

So you want some news? I mean some real, sink your teeth in and let the juices squirt over your lips and run warm down your neck into your shirt collar news? Alright then. You asked for it. How about this...

















After five years of dating and two years of engagement, Laura and I are finally getting married.

Now, to some of you kids who read the inane surveys I fill our on Myspace, you've probably pieced together this info already. But for the rest of you out there who haven't been privy to the constant hints and references, the truth is out. On October 27th in Bay City, Michigan, Miss Laura Beth Tanner will become Mrs. Laura Beth Fosgitt. And me, I'll just be the same ol' schmo who drew pictures in the back of the class since day one.

Now, I'm sure there's more than a couple of you out there saying, either to yourselves through inner monologue or perhaps out loud in a grocery store or public restroom: "Hey! Why is this the first I'm hearing about this?? And where the damn is MY invitation?!?"

The answer is simple yet regrettable. Laura and I, with some assistance from her family, basically had to scrape together the money and resources to put on this wedding all by ourselves. While this enabled us to do things entirely our own way, it limited us to the amount of people we could afford to invite. The resultant guest list, after much number crunching and no shortage of headaches, is a cozy fifty people, all immediate family members. If you wonder what that amounts to financially, think back to what you probably spent on your first car and subtract a thousand. That might come close to our wedding budget. In the end, we are very happy with the way the wedding plans are taking shape, and thus far, it looks like this will be the best possible wedding we could hope for.

That doesn't, however, make it any easier that we couldn't invite every friend we've ever had, or even a quarter the amount of every friend we ever had. For this, I can only hope that none of you will hold it against myself or Laura, and will be able to wish us your best with the understanding that, in an ideal, financially independent world, you would all be there, and will still be in our hearts.

If you're still with me at this point, I'll be happy to share the details of what the day will hold in store.

Laura and I will be wed at The Bay City Players, Michigan's oldest running community theater where Laura grew up and where I've been creating some great memories of my own in the last few years. We'll be married on their stage by Bay City's own Judge Tim Kelly, himself a regular performer in several Players' production. The reception will be held in the Players' lobby, where we'll enjoy some great food, music and just sharing the day with our families.

So that's it, folks; the biggest news I've had to share in, well, ever. If you have any thoughts, positive or god for forbid negative, don't be afraid to share 'em with me.

In other news, just a couple weeks prior to my matrimony, I've got a birthday coming up. This Sunday, actually, on October 7th. I'll be a perpetual ten year old trapped in a 33 year old's body. And what's on my birthday agenda? Well, not as much as you'd imagine. This Friday night I have a gig at Buck's Run in western Midland County where I'll be drawing caricatures for a Dow Corning event, Saturday night Laura and I will be doing something together, and Sunday, the day itself…hell if I know. Maybe nothing. As I'll be working the following Monday, it hardly seems wise to party on the Sabbath.

As for the rest of this report, I'm still in talks with Ape Comics, who still seem interested in Dead Duck and are assessing how best to market my comic. Their comment, and a very complimentary one in my opinion, was that "There's nothing else out there like it." That may make it hard to market, but it makes me proud all the same.

I've had a caricaturing gig last Friday at an Elementary school here in Midland, and I've got three more lined up this month (the one at Buck's Run, one at Northwood University here in Midland, and one at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi after my birthday). So that's good, at least. I sure can use the money and exposure.

More news as soon as there's any to report, people. My best to you, and the hopes that we all converse very, very soon. Oh, and as an early Happy Halloween to all you guys (and because it's my favorite holiday ever), I hope you enjoy these caricatures I drew of golden age horror actors Bela "Dracula" Lugosi and Boris "Frankenstein's monster" Karloff.

Jay