ICON

Deanna and I drove up to Providence, Rhode Island this past weekend so she could attend the ICON illustration convention being held there. I was able to attend some of the conference and really enjoyed what I saw. I spent the rest of the time exploring Providence, which I really enjoyed. I had been there once to tour RISD while I was looking at schools and liked the feel then, but it was great to have a few days to really explore. I walked most of the city, front to back, back to front. I visited just about every book store I could find, and there were quite a few. Cellar Stories Books and Myopic Books were my favorites. I also got to meet illustrator/musician Marcellus Hall at the convention. I am a big fan of his former band Railroad Jerk, so it was a great thrill to meet him. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few.
 

View from our hotel room over the water

View of the India Point Park

Gondola in the canal

Deanna sitting behind Matt Groening at the conference

We got delicious and cheap treats from the porchagese Silver Star Bakery

One of many telephone pole sculptures in Wickenden

TEN YEARS

Today rounds out the best ten years of my life. I went on my first real date with my wife on February 15, 2002. We were living in Baltimore, both illustration students at MICA. We are now living about 10 blocks from the place we first met. Early on in our relationship we both recognized a lot of shared interests and values. It has been fun over time discovering all of the things we don't have in common. Those are the things that allow us to not just mirror each other, but to compliment each other. We have had our good times and bad times, but as time goes on I find myself reflecting on the good times much more often. The other things tend to fall by the wayside. It has been 10 years full of nerdy, passionate, comforting fun. I've been married to my best friend for three and a half years and can't wait to see what the next ten years together holds for us.