Sharon's health (Stan's Facebook updates)

[delta chameleon]

I wish you both the best! It's good to hear that Sharon is making improvements, and on the way back home. I am sure it will be so helpful to have family around her.

[Steve Hubbell]

13 hours ago
See you in a few days at the Baltimore Comic-Con! I'm really looking forward to it as Usagi is the theme of their Yearbook as well as the image on their T-shirt.

12 hours ago
The original, which was used as the cover to the Yearbook and T-shirt, will be auctioned at the con.

7 hours ago
Will this also be available as a print, by any chance?

6 hours ago
No plans for a print, or any other publication of this piece right now.

7 hours ago
Instead of her usual 3 laps walking around the convalescence facility, Sharon only did one before the nurse therapists stopped her and returned her to her room. She was unsteady and perspiring a lot. She was in her wheelchair when Hannah and I arrived. Her blood sugar was a bit elevated, and she was very slow in responding to questions. However, she was a lot better after a nap.

[coolray85]

my heart is touched by this message;(...I hope sharon has enough time now to rest up and in the afternoon she is back stronger and fresher.such long hospital stays can be very tough I imagine ADDING to the hardships she has to overcome from the reason she is in the hospital right now.I am as always wishing you the best of luck and fortune to come with a fresh surprising easy breeze!I know you are going to make it, guys!

on topic of the baltimore shirts:is there a picture of them?sounds sweet;)..I am still bummed out for having had to pass on that groo and rufferto vs usagi and spot shirt from a few years back;)

[Steve Hubbell]

51 minutes ago
A friend just returned from Japan, and he sent Sharon this Totoro book that is exclusive to the Ghibli Museum. It covers the Totoro short that is also exclusive to the museum. Besides the Cat Car, it also has Cat Trains, and a lot of Totoro. Thanks, Bill.

The last time we were in Tokyo, we got an invitation to tour Ghibli Studio. It is in a residential neighborhood, an easy walking distance from a train station. I've always really liked their backgrounds, so asked the head of the background department, "What kind of paints do you use? Your backgrounds are always so beautiful." She replied, "We use tempera, because that is the cheapest paints we can get."

The really funny thing is that the Ghibli Museum (which is wonderful, by the way) has an exhibit of an animator's studio, with old wooden tables splattered with paint and character designs and storyboards pinned to the walls. That is nothing like what the real studio looks like, with their clutter-free computer cubicles.

[Steve Hubbell]

5 hours ago
Sharon's blood pressure was at a decent level when I left, and she had been responding well to questions. She was not in any pain or discomfort. She does have air conditioning, but it does get warm in her west-facing room. They increased her fluids and brought in a couple of fans. She seemed much better after they did this, and she had a little nap. I'm leaving for Baltimore Comic-Con early tomorrow, so won't see her again until Monday.

Here are a couple of pictures from Studio Ghibli. We were not allowed to take photos inside, of course. In fact, they told us to "forget everything you saw."

5 hours ago

This was the only sign that announce the famous studio.

5 hours ago

(L to R) Ghibli director Watanabe-san, who acted as our guide, Takauchi-san, president of TMS who acted as interpreter, SCAD teachers Dove, Ray Goto, and David Duncan, and (in front) Sharon and me in front of the Studio Ghibli building.

I was there as a traveling teacher for a group of very talented students from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I was able to arrange tours of both TMS and Ghibli. There is a big wooden Totoro in the lobby, and a Triceratops skull in the rooftop lounge at Ghibli.

This was back in December of 2009.

5 hours ago
did you see the robot on the roof?

5 hours ago
The robot is at the Ghibli Museum. This is the studio where they make the animation. They don't usually give tours but, somehow, I was able to arrange tours at both Studio Ghibli and TMS.

Studio Ghibli does have a triceratops skull on their roof.

[Steve Hubbell]

2 hours ago
I had a great time at the Baltimore Comic-Con. I will post more about it later.

I receive the neatest gifts from Usagi readers, from artwork to books and treats. One reader works at the White House, and is assigned close to the President. This reader gave me Barack Obama's memoir, Dreams of my Father, signed by the author. This is my first book autographed by a sitting president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. I was also given a photo of the two of them together. Thank you!

2 hours ago
"Dreams FROM my Father". I can't even read the title correctly.

[Steve Hubbell]

3 hours ago
Sharon walked only about 50 feet today, then had to return to bed. Tests showed that she has an infection in her sputum. I'm continuing my training with her trach tube. I replaced the ties and suctioned it out. I also started training with her feeding tube. There is just so much to remember--elevate the head, clamp the tube, close the valve, etc, etc. We still have a lot to do to get Sharon's room ready for her homecoming next week.

Back to the Baltimore Comic-con. The Harvey Awards took place Saturday night. I was not nominated, but I was asked to present the Harvey for the Best Single Issue. I know what you're thinking: How was the food. Well, it was great. The entire evening was really enjoyable, though a tad long for me (but I'm an early-to-bed, early-to-rise type of guy). I remember there were three standing ovations. 1) for Sal Buscema winning the lifetime achievement award, 2) for Paul Levitz for the Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award, and 3) for me as I walked up to the stage(!). MC Bill Willingham did a wonderful and very flattering introduction for me and talked about my upcoming 30th anniversary. Or it might just be attendees were applauding because I was presenting the last award of the night.


Squash soup (I think)


Fresh spinach salad with cranberries


Crab cake and herb chicken over mash potatoes and asparagus


Dessert to cap a great meal


The Harvey Award swag. This is a big reason why my suitcase was just as heavy returning, as it was going to Baltimore with a suitcase full of UY books.

The Gasoline Alley book from IDW is incredible. More than 300 pages of one of the greatest comic strips of all time. I have a Dick Moores daily in my studio.

I got a Stan Lee glass the last time I attended the Harvey. I was told they gave out Betty last year. It was Veronica this year. I hope I'm there for Mr Weatherbee.

3 hours ago
So happy to see you Stan. Much love to Sharon!

3 hours ago
Thanks for the cookies, Chris. They were my dinner on the flight back to LA.

3 hours ago
Strange Prayers sent as well. Stay strong.

3 hours ago
It was great meeting you, Patrick, and I enjoyed sitting next to you at the award ceremony.

2 hours ago
Did you have their famous blue crab cakes?

2 hours ago
I had crab cakes Friday and Saturday nights. I don't know if they were blue crab cakes. They tended to run a little saltier than I would have liked. But then, I've been cutting down on my salt intake for awhile so almost all restaurant food tastes a bit too salty for me.

[Steve Hubbell]

44 minutes ago
I had to take the car in for maintenance, so did not have time to make a lunch to take when I metroed over to see Sharon. The PT staff are real foodies so asked their advice about a seafood buffet nearby. I was warned to steer clear of it. My second option was Thai restaurant I had eaten at before. They approved of that place, but suggested a better plqce. I don't know if it is better, but it was good. Pork pad Thai with Thai ice tea.



Sharon did two laps today, much better than yesterday but a lap short of her usual three.

[Steve Hubbell]

5 hours ago
We received a bit of bad news concerning Sharon's at-home convalescence. Much of the equipment we thought were covered, and we were told is covered, by our insurance is not--things like her bed, wheelchair, nebulizer and compressor, suction pump, oxygen concentrator, oxygen tanks, etc. We'll see what we can get from the Convalescence Aid Center, and we'll rent the rest.

5 hours ago
Thank you, everyone. I really did not expect this outpouring for financial support. Our finances are fine right now. Honest. It was just very disappointing news. We're going to check out what equipment we can get loaned to us, what we can buy from thrift stores, then see how much rentals will be. If we need financial aid, I'll let people know.

3 hours ago
Hannah and I just returned from the Convalescent Aid Society, and we have gotten a lot of things on free loan--a bed (we just have to buy a new mattress), wheelchair, commode, and walker. They said to check later for a sliding bath chair. We also went to a convalescent supply store to check out prices and see what they have. We will compare it to what prices Kaiser offers.

3 hours ago
We checked into medicaid, and she is too young, even with SSI. We don't qualify for Medical either, because we make too much. I guess we're in that neglected middle class that people keep talking about. However, I do have to stress that we are not in financial straits yet, and will let people know if that happens.

about an hour ago
Thank you, Karen, but they were very helpful. We went in today, and already got the wheelchair, walker, a walking belt, and commode. The bed will be delivered Friday.

2 hours ago
The biggest thing we need right now is prayers and good thoughts.

[Steve Hubbell]

7 hours ago
Sharon practiced getting into our car from a curb today. She did really well. Tomorrow she will get into our car from ground level. We have a mini-van, so it's a pretty high step up. I'm getting more confident in my trach tube maintenance, but there is still so much to learn in the next 5 days, and so much to remember. I put her back to bed, but forgot to reconnect her feeding tube. The nurse came in and was surprised to see it off.



Buddy Chuck Dillon posted a part of his hidden pictures illustration for Highlights. It was, and still is my favorite feature in that magazine. Chuck has been doing this for awhile and he had inspired me to do a few games of my own for the Usagi comics.

17 hours ago


Forgive me if I showed this to you already. I put an Usagi-ish rabbit in a hidden picture recently. I'll post the entire piece once it's published. It was my first anthropomorphic illustration for Highlights.

16 hours ago
HA! That is wonderful! I am so pleased that you are doing these hidden pictures for Highlights. That was, and still is, my favorite feature of the magazine. You had inspired me to do my own hidden pictures, which I really should post on my FB page.

5 hours ago
Awesome! Who did the color on this one? Tom? I really wish I could have bought this one off of you. The new puppy won out! Save one for me for next time we see each other!

5 hours ago
Chuck--Ryan Hill colored this. He colored a lot of the back cover illustrations for the UY comic. Maybe we can trade hidden pictures. I still have the original for this one.

That sounds great, Stan! Thank you. Ryan has a great color sense! The shadows really add a lot of depth.

[Steve Hubbell]

6 hours ago
Yesterday, Sharon practiced getting into our car parked at the curb. Today, she got into the car from ground level, that is, an open parking lot. She did really well, but it was an effort on a pretty warm day.



Her hospital bed was delivered this morning, and her oxygen systems will arrive tonight. We are expecting her feeding supplies Monday. We are converting the dining room to become her room.

[Steve Hubbell]

2 hours ago

The air pressure pad for Sharon's bed was delivered last night. So were the oxygen concentrator and oxygen tanks. We are able to refill the tanks ourselves, which is a convenience. The nebulizer, and feeding system will arrive Monday. I still have to order the hospital curtains so we can block off the dining room, but have to do that Monday.



I'm not visiting Sharon today, as I will be working on her room, including moving a heavy china hutch into the living Room. I've got help for that. Thanks, Jim MacQuarrie!

[Steve Hubbell]

14 hours ago



Maria from the Japanese American National Museum came by this morning, and brought the new Usagi Yojimbo coffee mugs. It's has the same design as the tea cups, but with a handle. What an innovation! The mugs are already in the gift shop, but not yet online. It will be soon, though.

[Steve Hubbell]

about an hour ago



I did not have time to make a lunch before visiting Sharon, so went out for pad Thai and Thai ice coffee. She walked while I was gone, but did not go far because of dizziness. She is fighting another infection.



She walked half a lap around the convalescence center, instead of her usual three.

We got more medical equipment deliveries tonight--a compressor and suction device. Some of the equipment is not what we are used to at convalescence, so we will have to adapt to the new systems. The orchid is from our dentist. Thanks, Dr Nick!



We also bought some curtains. They are beige and light blue, though they look gray here.

[delta chameleon]

I am so happy and relieved to hear that Sharon is coming home today! Such a great, positive step. I'm sure she will be so much happier at home, constantly around family and friends. Wishing you both the best!