General discussion about Usagi Yojimbo, the comics, the stories, the characters, collectibles, TV appearances, Stan Sakai, Space Usagi, Nilson & Hermy, and all other related topics.
Stan Sakai wrote: 15 hours ago
We're in Seattle. We took the light rail from Sea-Tac to Pike's Market near our hotel. It cost us $5.50 for both of us, as opposed to a $50 cab ride. I don't remember a light rail system the last time I was here.
It's Sharon's birthday today, and she had a lot of visitors at the convalescence facility.
Stan Sakai wrote: 15 hours ago
Neither Matthew or I knew about the rail, but we saw a sign at the airport and checked it out. We walked down to Pikes Market and bought some cherries. We found a neat hole in the wall sandwich place on the way back to the hotel. Now i've got to work on pages.
Stan Sakai wrote: about an hour ago
I am in Seattle with son Matthew. Sharon is still in convalescence care in Los Angeles. Yesterday was her birthday, I heard from daughter Hannah that it was a good day for her. Sharon did physical therapy and was responsive to her many visitors. She also got a bunch of cards and gifts, and was able to Skype with her sister and mom though she still cannot talk or hear.
Stan Sakai wrote: about an hour ago
I will be a speaker at the Japanese American National Museum Conference here. Sharon was originally supposed to accompany me, and we would make a birthday weekend of it. However it all changed when she went into the hospital. She still encouraged me to go, so Matthew got her ticket. He had never been here before, and is enjoying it.
Stan Sakai wrote: 15 hours ago
Matthew and I took the monorail to the Seattle Center and the Space Needle. I really wanted to go to the EMP Museum, particularly the science fiction and horror sections. The last time I tried going was a Monday, and it was closed. I had lu...nch from the iron pig lunch truck, pulled pork sandwich.
I registered for the conference, and went to the opening ceremony. It opened with taiko drummers. I really enjoy taiko, both the music and the choreography. Speakers today included the acting counsel general of Japan and a former governor of Washington.
Stan Sakai wrote: 15 hours ago
Christopher Reeve costume from Superman 4.
Stan Sakai wrote:
15 hours ago
When I saw this iron pig truck I knew I just had to eat here.
Stan Sakai wrote: 14 hours ago
Just did Face Time with Sharon. She cannot hear or talk, so I made a few big signs.
Will Lund wrote: 14 hours ago
Was that former Governor Gary Locke?
Stan Sakai wrote: 2 hours ago
Matthew and I are getting ready to leave Seattle. I pencilled 6 pages since arriving Thursday. This is more work than I was able to do in the previous two weeks.
Comi-Con is just around the corner, and I haven't started preparing for it. This will be a busy week.
Lea Sadler wrote: 2 hours ago
what do you need to do to prepare?
Stan Sakai wrote: 2 hours ago
Lea--I have a booth at the con. I have to organize and sign (with a sketch) hundreds of books, sketchbooks, and comics. Artwork has to be organized as well as pre-convention orders. Sketchbook 10 has to be picked up from the printers, and a few hundred of those need to be signed and packed. Some runs of comics, such as 47 Ronin needs to be signed, packaged as sets, then priced at a discount. I also have to inventory everything I bring down. Normally, it takes a full two weeks to prepare for San Diego. Meanwhile, I still plan on visiting Sharon daily.
Stan Sakai wrote: 2 hours ago
Oh, and every book, comic, and piece of art needs to be priced with a Post-it note. It makes it much easier for everybody at the con.
Stan Sakai wrote: 11 hours ago
We're at SeaTac now. We took the light rail from downtown, and got here in plenty of time. We were concerned that security might take longer because of holiday flyers. It was crowded, but it went quickly.
Stan Sakai wrote: 12 hours ago
Snake of the day! I came upon this rattlesnake this morning. It lay in the middle of the trail like it was king of the mountain, and, as far as I was concerned, it really was. It even rattled at me. I had never had a snake rattle at me before, not even when I nudged a small rattler off the trail with my walking stick a few weeks ago. If you look at it closely you'll see a tail sticking out of its mouth. It must have just caught breakfast. Anyway, seeing as how he was quite agitated, and in the narrow part of the trail, and as I had already hiked up more than two miles, I thought the wisest thing to do would be to turn around and head back down. And that's what I did.
I saw a lot of racers last year. So far this year the count is three rattlers and one racer. I would take a racer over a rattler any day.
Stan Sakai wrote: 4 hours ago
Sharon had an okay, not a great, day today. She missed most of morning physical therapy because of high blood pressure, but was able to walk almost a hundred feet with a walker. Her BP was also high in the afternoon, so she had physical therapy on her bed--exercising her legs and using arm bands. Her cousin Faye is visiting from Hawaii. Faye is an audiologist, and brought Sharon a small sound amplifier. Sharon can hear if it is turned up all the way, and that lifted her spirits a lot.
Stan Sakai wrote: 12 hours ago
Sharon had an appointment with her Ear/Nose/Throat doctor this morning, and was shuttled over by an ambulance. He plumped her vocal chords and examined her ears. There is a puncture in her ear drum that will have to heal on its own.
Her grand day out left her wiped out, and she slept for about 2 hours when she got back to convalescence but she was up for her afternoon physical therapy. Her blood pressure was on the high side, so they took it easy and gave her lots of rest time. She was able to walk about 75 feet, though. The therapists are training me in how to move Sharon and getting her from the bed to the wheelchair.
Stan Sakai wrote: 8 hours ago via mobile.
Today is our 36th wedding anniversary, and Sharon is having a good day. Her numbers, even her blood pressure, was good during morning physical therapy. I even brought pastries for the PT staff, though I did not remember our anniversary until I got to convalescence and Sharon reminded me.
Stan Sakai 4 hours ago
Sharon really did have a good day today. She walked twice in morning physical therapy, and did afternoon therapy at her bedside. She even put on her own socks. All this time her blood pressure remained good. Even her blood sugar was in the normal range today. Another patient at the convalescent center is a character actor that has been working since the fifties. She has PT about the same time as Sharon, and she is engaging and charming with neat stories.
Stan;
Happy anniversary to you both, and a belated happy birthday to Sharon. Best wishes for her, and for you too. Keep up your strength and your good spirits with your fantastic cooking!
Stan Sakai wrote: 19 hours ago
As good as yesterday was, today is the opposite. Her blood pressure was up to 185/116, much too high for anything physical. It went down, but after half an hour it was still too high so she was put back to bed. It did go down to decent numbers after awhile and with medication.
Stan Sakai wrote: 12 hours ago
Sharon's numbers are good, but physical therapy really tired her out, more than usual. She also had difficulty breathing, so they put her on oxygen and gave her a breathing treatment to open her passageways and lungs. She is sleeping comfortably now.
Stan Sakai wrote: 9 hours ago
Her blood pressure was great at the start of afternoon PT (101/67), but it went up to 165/105 after about 15 minutes of light therapy. When it went down to a decent level she walked back to her room. She was really tired.
Stan Sakai wrote: 5 hours ago
I haven't posted any dinner photos in awhile. Tonight it was braised chicken thighs over baby book choy. I had it with rice that I cooked with ginger and green onions. I think I made a bit too much, so it looks like I'll be having this for some time. It was good, though.
Stan Sakai wrote: 4 hours ago
Not much of a recipe. I cooked the bok choy in a wok with a little bit of oil, then set aside. Boned and cut up chicken thighs, coated it with corn starch, and tossed it in the wok with some oil. Made the sauce with soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger. I used the chicken bones to make a broth with ginger, green onions and a little salt. I used the broth to cook the rice.
Stan Sakai wrote: 5 hours ago
Sharon's blood pressure was a bit low this morning. She did physical therapy, but did not walk. It was mostly balance and some weight-work.
Her blood pressure was good this afternoon, so she walked down the hall with her walker, turned the corner, and walked down another hall. She walked through parts of the convalescence center that she had never seen before. In all, she walked about 200 feet before she tired herself out and was wheeled back to her room. That is the most she has walked in the past 12 weeks!
Stan Sakai wrote: 31 minutes ago
Just got a call from convalescence. Sharon has elevated white cell count, and will be put on antibiotics.
Stan Sakai wrote: Yesterday
Son Matthew and I will be heading down to San Diego this morning. Daughter Hannah will stay to hold down the fort and to visit Sharon in convalescence.
It's a light schedule for me at Comic-con this year. I'm on the Sergio and Mark panel on Thursday at 2:30, though I don't know why. I haven't lettered an issue of Groo in years. On the other hand, there hasn't been an issue of Groo published in years, so I guess I fit right in. Mike Richardson and I will be doing a signing together for 47 Ronin at Dark Horse on Sunday at 1, followed by an interview. Other than that, I will be at my own booth--#4906. Besides the usual stuff, I will have the new Usagi collection in trade and hard cover, as well as 47 Ronin, and my new Sketchbook 10.
See you there!
Stan Sakai wrote: 20 hours ago
Got to San Diego. Registered and picked up badges. Brought our boxes in to our booth. Checked into the hotel. Relaxing and watching TV in air conditioned comfort.
Stan Sakai wrote: 2 hours ago
In San Diego, doing some work in the hotel room before Comic-con. So far I've penciled 4 pages. I need to do 4 more by Sunday. That's on top of con commissions.
New sketchbook looks awesome! I can't wait until it's made available to those of us who can't/aren't going to SDCC. I would love to have gotten a signed copy of 47 Ronin by Mike & Stan. The pics of the Senso pages are such a cool treat to see the in-process work. I can't wait for this project!
