It’s been a good summer. I cannot complain. Hung out with family and friends. Enjoyed the sun and the heat… And also had enough of the HEAT.
What’s going on right now publication-wise?
BIG JACK: ANIMALS, my 3-part comic book, is about ready to be completed and sent out to the masses. Target is OCTOBER to have it printed and out.
SILVER & STEAM, a one-shot comic book featuring my character SILVER SKATI and Shane Luttrell’s SUZIE STEAM is in the works. Written by me, and illustrated by four superb illustrators: Doug Curtis, Josh Holley, Shane Luttrell and Steve Shipley.
#STICKONSTUMP POCKET PARABLES #3 focused on STRENGTH, which we all still need nowadays.
#STICKONSTUMP 2023 wall calendar. Eeesh. It’s that time again.
Seems busy. Takes forever. Need to stop procrastinating. LOL
I went to grade school, parochial elementary school, where that parking lot is to the left of that church there. There was a two-floor square building there, with a basement area. The roof of that school was most likely fully water-proof as all the rubber balls thrown and kicked up there melted and created a protective coating.
The neighborhood was a little different back then versus now.
On the corner of Turner and Bridge, kiddy-corner to where you’d go under the expressway, there used to be a gas station. I think there was a service garage there for there were junk cars and trucks in the back lot behind the building. There used to be a battered, old motorboat back there too. When us school kids would be waiting for the city bus to come pick us up, we sometimes climb in the boat and play that we were sailing around on the water.
And then the station owner would come out and yell at us to stop playing on that old, decrepit boat.
Well, it was either the station owner or the owner of the CINA-MINI II little x-rated movie place next to the station in between Turner and Broadway. Noice.
The building on the corner of Broadway and Bridge, now the NEW HOLLAND BREW COMPANY Building, was a Sherwin Williams paint store waay back in the day, then an adult lingerie store… probably to go with the Cina-Mini movie house a stone’s throw away.
Considering it seemed like a “crusty” place to be as a young school kid, we never had any troubles with anyone as far as I knew or experienced.
After seeing that end of Bridge Street falling into disrepair, I will admit I like that it is now a little mecca of coolness and PLACE TO GO now.
John and Dale are two scouts sent out by the NSC (North Shore Coalition) to keep tabs on Big Jack Galloway and his trusty old sidekick Florence “Flori” Larsen. Jack and Flori are part of my BIG JACK: ANIMALS comic book series.
This little strip I have created is related to my BIG JACK: ANIMALS comic book in which BIG JACK: ANIMALS ISSUE 2 is currently in production. While people are waiting, I thought we might have some fun and see what two North Shore Coalition scouts are up to while on assignment to keep tabs on Big Jack Galloway and his old sidekick Flori Larsen.
As far as adventures in the POST post-zompoc West Michigan and along the Lake Michigan lakeshore, all the way from his hometown of Alsip, Illinois, JOE CROSS has been through quite a bit. After coming up to the Grand Rapids area, Joe worked for the Wyoming-Grandville Consortium, and then, after revealing his skills, became a member of the infamous village of Reganshire.
We caught up with Joe, his stuffed toybear traveling companion, Albert, and his vehicle called Lacey, just before leaving for Grand Rapids Proper with the daughter of Reganshire’s town leader, Rebecca Regan.
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WATERMINK: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk to you.
CROSS: Buddy, you cornered me. Lucky I’m not one of the true locals, or you would’ve gotten your head blown up.
(Watermink Note: Reganshire isn’t known to be the friendliest of places. It may have something to do with the rows of spiked heads waving along the village’s fence-line perimeter. End note.)
WATERMINK: What is a URBAN SALVAGE ENGINEER anyway? What do you do? Do you need special training?
CROSS: In a less glorified title, some people might call us Trash Collectors. But in this day and age, the stuff we collect can be used for building, trading …survival. As people have migrated to walled and fenced and guarded cities and towns, there is a lot they left behind, and I am one of those that can be contacted to go outside comfortable confines and, hopefully, bring you back what you’ve requested or need. You don’t need special training, just a good head on your shoulders, a rational (or maybe not) thinking brain inside that head, a fully gassed-up vehicle …and a gun or ten.
WATERMINK: Do you simply collect things for other people, or for yourself also?
CROSS: I need to survive also, so often times, if I am just working for myself, I go out and “salvage” things I can take back to town and sell or trade.
WATERMINK: Besides the feral zombies still wandering the land, do you run across any other things or creatures that have tried to foil your salvaging activities? (Watermink Note: Cross looks at me funny here. Like I ought to know something that recently transpired. End Note.)
CROSS: The zombies, really, are nothing compared to, ummm, some of the BULL I’ve run across out there.
(Watermink Note: Cross pauses, looking at me again like I should know something of importance or that has recently made news. End Note.)
WATERMINK: Elaborate please.
CROSS: You’re from the Grand Rapids Herald? Grand Rapids?
WATERMINK: Yes, umm, well, I was stationed in Lansing until recently so…
CROSS: That explains it. Anyway, yes, there are some big ass, wild animals roaming these parts because of, what I’ve heard, some geneticists from the local university mucked around with diseased DNA, trying to find a cure for the Undead. I think that DNA testing statement was a lie, as what I’ve seen out there are …things much more frightening than the actual Undead. So I wouldn’t recommend going unescorted, say, west of Grand Rapids and Reganshire, though I may have helped take care of one of the bigger threats out there.
(Watermink Note: Cross seems to shiver uncontrollably at this last statement, and his dour look tells me he’d rather not discuss the subject further. End Note.)
WATERMINK: The latest news is that you are taking Rebecca Regan into Grand Rapids. I thought the Regans, old man Silas, and Rebecca were on the outs with the big city.
CROSS: Where did you hear this? Is it common knowledge in Grand Rapids that Regan is heading there?
(Watermink Note: Cross seems suddenly very, very nervous. End Note.)
WATERMINK: No, not common news at all outside of Reganshire. I just learned about the trip when I stepped foot in here. I take it Grand Rapids and good Mayor Honeywell don’t know you are coming to visit?
CROSS: … WATERMINK: If there is something you need to say off record, feel free. I know the price if you get in trouble around here.
(Watermink Note: Severed heads on pikes along town perimeter. Armed Reganshire guardsmen in black uniforms. Stockades in town square. A stone’s throw west into the feral wilderness. Nuff said. End Note.)
CROSS: … Myself, personally, I think it’s a bad idea to bring Rebecca Regan into the city. I don’t know where her father actually left things with Grand Rapids, but, for better or for worse, I think taking his daughter in there might end up being extremely …catastrophic.
WATERMINK: How so? Do you know her motives?
CROSS: I don’t. That’s why it’s a bit unsettling. She’s given me various reasons to take her: visiting an old boyfriend …nasty… going after one of her mother’s stolen heirlooms …I never have heard what happened to her mother… having a meet-up with a pharmacist-of-sorts…
WATERMINK: Drug dealer? I know that goes on in the city. I heard they use some of the local undead as mules.
CROSS: Heard rumors of that.
WATERMINK: Who is going to the city with you, just yourself and Rebecca?
CROSS: The Regans never travel without their big-armed, armed thugs. Rebecca’s got four giant gentlemen she plans on taking, along with her personal nurse of who I think is more CAPTIVE participant than willing assistant.
WATERMINK: How much city opposition do you think you’ll face if Rebecca goes in with hostilities?
CROSS: Oh geez. Let’s see: the city police, the city militia Grand Rapids Central Command. Tanks. Armored gun vehicles. Troops with all many of weaponry.
WATERMINK: I get it. And, honestly, you’re going why?
CROSS: … (He nods towards the rotting heads waving on the pikes.) I kinda have no choice, and since Rebecca knows I’m a Salvage Engineer and can help her find those aforementioned items I mentioned earlier…
(At this point, Joe Cross looks at the toy stuffed brown bear, he says something to it that I don’t think I hear correctly. “You think I ought to shut up you say, Albert? Maybe you’re right.” And he seems to wait for the things response. A vehicle drives past us, rumbling the ground. The bear’s head wobbles back and forward a few times.)
CROSS: I think we’re done with this interview. Where can I read this when it comes out?
(I look at the heads again. Those rotting, sad heads wagging on those tall poles.)
WATERMINK: I’ll …um… be in contact when the interview is published. Good luck with your excursion into Grand Rapids. I’ll say hello if I see you.
CROSS: (Under his breath but just loud enough for me to hear) With Rebecca Regan with me, you may want to NOT do that.
END OF INTERVIEW
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There’s a monster in Grand Rapids. The dread beast’s name is Rebecca Regan, and Joe Cross can be blamed for bringing her into the big city. A vengeful spirit cannot be calmed or detoured. Joe discovers this when he ventures into Grand Rapids with Rebecca, her main body guards, and Regan’s “medical attendee.” Providing vague, questionable motives for entering the city, Regan’s excursion quickly unravels into danger and chaos. In the midst of Grand Rapids’ heavily-armed and mechanized militia, the GRPD, and a underground group of anti-zombie renegades, Joe finds there is no rest for the wary or the wicked. Joe is neck deep in it this time, and realizes, sometimes, you have to stand up, and take matters into your own hands to resolve a bad situation.
Where to get THE GIRL WHO RULED THE WORLD, the next JOE CROSS installment:
Get a signed author copy for $10 USD (free shipping in continental US) by contacing me at: authorpeterwelmerink@gmail.com
I’ve been selling old vinyl on eBay. I figured I wasn’t buying it (vinyl) anymore. I didn’t have the stereo equipment set up anymore, ie, for years and years and years. I wasn’t going to re-invest in a better turntable, or, if I checked out my old turntable and it had issues, I wasn’t going to invest in a new needle or invest in maintenance on a system I wasn’t using any longer.
And, again, I wasn’t planning on re-investing in vinyl so…
Wanting to see if my stereo-equipment-of-old was still in working order before trying to sell it, I went and pulled my gear out of the dust and boxes and hooked things up.
Though I cannot say I ever considered myself a major AUDIOPHILE, I used to have quite the collection of records—7” 45’s and 12” 33 speed. With my folks, we’d often go out to Montgomery Wards in Wyoming, or any of the Meijer stores that sold records, or Believe In Music, and I’d add to my collection. I vaguely recall buying 45’s for a cost under a buck. I used to have an old full-size suitcase heavy with 45’s. I used to have many, many milk crates (hard plastic) packed with 12” LPs.
I have no idea where all that stuff went. Many, many moves from folk’s home, to my own apartment, to another apartment, to another apartment, etc., to my first home, to my second home, to my third home… The collection was whittled down to a few 45’s and one milk crate of 12 inchers.
Yeah, I know. That’s pretty sad.
But I always loved music. Growing up in the late sixties, grade school in the 70’s, high school in the 80’s, living out on my own in the 90’s. I could easily take all the great tunes and artists I’ve heard and grown up with and make a soundtrack of my life. Music does talk to you. It got me through high times and low times. Listening to Dazed and Confused off Led Zep’s first album…yeah, probably a high time. LOL (Awesome, awesome band. Awesome, awesome music.)
So, with only a little vinyl left in the here and now, I hooked up my old system. Realistic turntable and Kenwood receiver (volume knob ready to fall off with the slightest breath), and a pair of more current bookshelf speakers. Wired in. Plugged in. The first disc I placed on the turntable was SteppenWolf Magic Carpet Ride. I cranked the volume.
Holee shitballs! YES!! I rocked the house, yo!
The pops and crackles and hisses. Yup. Still there. But the deep groove sound being pulled up by that diamond stylus, traveling, traveling, through the system, to kick out of them speakers. All those fine, crisp, clear vocals and instruments. Damn! It was all there.
I ended up playing a few of my last albums in my collection. The Earons Hear on Earth and Nick Gilder City Nights. The tunes sounded wonderful to my ears through my old stereo system.
When the music ended and the needle lifted and retracted to its needle stand, I had made my decision about jumping right in and selling my old stereo equipment.
I’d keep it for the foreseeable future.
Enjoy life and enjoy your music. Let music and the Arts enrich your life and views on life. Rock on. Create on. Keep moving forward.
It’s been a long while since I posted here on my WORDPRESS account. So why start posting more now?
I’ve been doing a lot since that last post in… 2018? Eeesh. Writing and publishing PROSE books of action-adventure. Last year, amidst the Covid insanity, working on bringing my comic book series, BIG JACK: ANIMALS to fruition. Writing more comic book stories. Trying to live. Trying to breathe. Trying to keep my sanity. All that good stuff.
I figure MAYBE IT’S TIME to be a bit more official as I have a small slew of CREATIVE WORK under my belt, a bit more to offer in that realm, and versus just depending on FACEBOOK and TWITTER, or whatnot, for updating ya all… Make things official here with this here official blog spot.
As you can see, no ads, no annoyances (tell me if you find anything like that) and even a website domain if I should use it. THIS will be my official BLOG SPOT for creativity news and more: short stories, pictures, commentary on the CREATIVE LIFE, commentary on the CREATIVE PASSION.
So settle in and know my reply to Heath Ledger’s JOKER question WHY SO SERIOUS? Because maybe it is time to be a bit more serious as my publication list and creativity news needs to be expressed more.
More to come.
A short story collection featuring real West Michigan settings in fictional stories.
The Worlds of Peter Welmerink 