Almost back on track!

Past couple of days I've been lax of my posting schedule.

I am all out of my sleep schedule, so I am about ready to pass out right now. Imagine. A body tired at 2 am. UNTHINKABLE!

So quick synopsis of my week in Pittsburgh.

Day one: DRIVE FOREVER
Day two: Arrive and walk 4 miles around Pittsburgh by myself. Get back to the room and SLEEP FOREVER. Also sleep through the 4th of July fireworks until thunder woke me up and I was confused by everything.
Day 3: Get to hang out with my friends, Laken, TJ, and Eddie. I adore Laken and this was the first year I got to meet her husband, TJ. They are both wonderful down to earth people and I cannot wait to see them again.
Day 4: Run around and do all the errands. Also meet up with more people I miraculously know. Then, oh then, I got to meet one of my idols. Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon were two of the guests of honor at the convention I attended with friends. Not only did I get to meet Ms Lackey, I also purchased her newest book and GOT IT SIGNED FOR NO CHARGE. Can't even begin to describe how much that event made my entire trip.
Day 5: Drive forever again. Stop in West Virginia for the night.
Day 6:Drive forever. End up in Jacksonville and stay for the night. Got Bento Cafe though. And Thai Tea. Twice.
Day 7: Finally arrive home and attempt to make candy with my sister. That was a horrid failure. Not to be attempted again.

And that is the quickest snippet of my week away from Florida. Tons of humidity jokes, mountain driving, terrified driving, and a smattering of sweet tea comments.

Lets introduce a character.


The reason I chose this character is mostly due to the fact I explained his story to my roommate, H. She patiently sat and listened to me  blather on about this character and his universe. So in order to organize my thoughts, I thought I might focus on him this week. Ladies and Gennulmun, I present to you, Travis Journ.

Name: Travis Journ
Age: Late 20s to early 30s
Nationality: American

Travis was born in Boston, in the mid 1800's. His father was a local banker and accountant for small businesses in the city and his mother was a mail order bride from Australia. Travis grew to adulthood in Boston, attending college for a degree in History, then taking a position as a junior curator in the Boston Museum of Anthropological History.

In his studies and observations, Travis began to note similarities in the oldest records of peoples in the western territories and Mexico. For years he documented and collected his findings into a case that showed compelling evidence of highly advanced linguistics and technology very out of place for the time. After years of searching for information, Travis decided that no more information could be gleaned from where he was and set out West to find his answers.

He finds work as a jack of all trades in towns where he stops. Occasionally, he is asked to find a person or people who are missing in the desert or wilderness. He becomes known for his uncanny ability to find people. Part of this is due to the contacts he develops across the cities and territories.

With every find, Travis comes closer and closer to finding out just what is linking all these civilizations together. This borders on obsessive at times for him, as he will forgo contact with other people for months at a time, if he is on the trail of an artifact or clue.

Travis keeps a battered red notebook with him at all times, with a winding carving etched into the front. This symbol on the front of the notebook was found carved on the headstone of a ornate burial site hidden deep in the mountains. There Travis found the strongest proof of his theories to date.

In the way of companions, Travis has one person he calls friend without hesitation. Mira is the sole owner of a brothel/Boarding house in a mining town turned train depot. Every time Travis comes through town, Mira reserves a room for him and arranges for his stay. Whenever he stops there, he does simple maintenance around the building, repairing shutters, doors, re shingling the roof, and making sure the irrigation lines are clear to the garden plot. Travis doesn't partake of any of the other services provided though. Through Mira, Travis can extend his web of information well beyond his range and can keep tabs on what is happening in various corners of the territories.

~~~

I have a large soft spot for Travis in my heart. In my mind, there can only be one way to tell his story, as a comic book. For years, I have visualized his story if bursts of images, from simple panel construcion, to full page spreads for particularly expressive images. Unfortunately, I cannot draw for the life of me, neither do I know any artists who would take time out of their busy days to goof off with me on a stupid project.

On a side note, this story in my mind is actually another Anthropomorphic character set, with Travis being a mutt, half Australian Shepherd, half Catahoula Curr, aka the Louisiana  Leopard Dog. Mira is a canary in my original ideas.

On another note, today, in a small way, I celebrated what would have been my father's 60th birthday. Its very hard to believe he's been gone almost a year. I miss you, Dad.

Well, lovelies, I skipped on posting this on the right night, so I am actually cranking out a double post for you tonight. Because I love you this much. Do me a favor though. Find someone near you. I don't care if its your cat or your significant. Give them a hug. It hurts when you can't anymore.

Sleep well and Sweet Dreams.