June 12th, 2008...
Eight months without a single update, and you might have thought that I had hung up my hat as far as the site was concerned.
Far from it. In fact, the past eight months have gone by in a blur, and I've had a few things keeping me busy, not the least of
which is a pressing drive to get a novel to cooperate with the revising process.
In the meantime, I moved again at the beginning of February, just a few miles away from my last house. I normally hate
moving, but I was very happy to get out of that house, considering the fact that, as we were moving out, the bedroom ceiling
collapsed and revealed to us a ceiling full of black mold. And at this new place, I'm not concerned about the plumbing giving out
every two weeks, either. And we actually have heating in this place. And... well, the list of differences can go on and on.
The Seryn project is flourishing, and brightly, I might add. As you may remember from my October article, I've hit a really
good stride in my writing. But what that means for the comic is up for debate. My artistic muse waxes and wanes depending on
the movements of my writing muse. They never balance out. One is always high while the other is low. Meaning that while I'm
writing like crazy, my drawings are being neglected. Or... if I do manage to pick up a pencil, the process of getting anything done
just feels tedious. That should be obvious, since it took me eight months to get a new comic posted.
With summer here, that means it's good camping season. Of course, just last week we went camping near Mt. St. Helens and
ended up getting rained on for five days. Didn't slow us down any, and didn't keep us from fishing (we caught nil, by the way).
But hey, we rented a boat. I *love* boats. And outside of camping, I've been familiarizing myself with the Olympia area on bicycle,
which my grumpy knees are not quick to forgive me for. But the fresh air is nice, and the Chehalis Western Trail is a great ride.
Not to mention that it brings me next to great sources of pond scum when I feel particularly bored.
And on that note, I thought it would be a good time to show you a sampling of my photographs.
Far from it. In fact, the past eight months have gone by in a blur, and I've had a few things keeping me busy, not the least of
which is a pressing drive to get a novel to cooperate with the revising process.
In the meantime, I moved again at the beginning of February, just a few miles away from my last house. I normally hate
moving, but I was very happy to get out of that house, considering the fact that, as we were moving out, the bedroom ceiling
collapsed and revealed to us a ceiling full of black mold. And at this new place, I'm not concerned about the plumbing giving out
every two weeks, either. And we actually have heating in this place. And... well, the list of differences can go on and on.
The Seryn project is flourishing, and brightly, I might add. As you may remember from my October article, I've hit a really
good stride in my writing. But what that means for the comic is up for debate. My artistic muse waxes and wanes depending on
the movements of my writing muse. They never balance out. One is always high while the other is low. Meaning that while I'm
writing like crazy, my drawings are being neglected. Or... if I do manage to pick up a pencil, the process of getting anything done
just feels tedious. That should be obvious, since it took me eight months to get a new comic posted.
With summer here, that means it's good camping season. Of course, just last week we went camping near Mt. St. Helens and
ended up getting rained on for five days. Didn't slow us down any, and didn't keep us from fishing (we caught nil, by the way).
But hey, we rented a boat. I *love* boats. And outside of camping, I've been familiarizing myself with the Olympia area on bicycle,
which my grumpy knees are not quick to forgive me for. But the fresh air is nice, and the Chehalis Western Trail is a great ride.
Not to mention that it brings me next to great sources of pond scum when I feel particularly bored.
And on that note, I thought it would be a good time to show you a sampling of my photographs.
To the left... well, I was really bored and had a lot of fancy equipment
in arms' reach to play with. A lancet in the finger brought me some
amusement. Admit it, you would have done the same.
in arms' reach to play with. A lancet in the finger brought me some
amusement. Admit it, you would have done the same.
Above: A gnat in my pond scum sample.
Left: That same gnat's wing.
Below: A paremecium. Because no pond scum sample is
complete without one.
complete without one.
And right: Can you guess what this might be?
None of these simple photographs are in dark field. I usually
use dark field for my diatoms. I will be posting *those* a little
later, because they are pretty and demand to be posted. And I
have photos of samples taken from my winogradsky columns at
home. Just for the hell of it.
use dark field for my diatoms. I will be posting *those* a little
later, because they are pretty and demand to be posted. And I
have photos of samples taken from my winogradsky columns at
home. Just for the hell of it.
The digital videos taken by my equipment, alas, cannot be posted yet. The file size on each video is insanely large, though a
friend of mine has offered to let me store them on his server. When I get around to uploading them there, then I'll most
certainly post links. Because I know at least my father would like to see them.
Anyway, I plan to update all throughout the summer. You'll believe it when you see it, I know. I might even make it to
Denver sometime in July, if everything goes well.
-Tallon Roe
friend of mine has offered to let me store them on his server. When I get around to uploading them there, then I'll most
certainly post links. Because I know at least my father would like to see them.
Anyway, I plan to update all throughout the summer. You'll believe it when you see it, I know. I might even make it to
Denver sometime in July, if everything goes well.
-Tallon Roe