The Falcon

This is a drawing of Captain America's 1970's era sidekick, the Falcon , as he appeared at the time. It was done by my friend, Arvell Jones . Arvell was at the time one of a group of comic book artists that came from Detroit. They were all friends of Rich Buckler (whom I have always been a great fan of, but have never actually met), and included other such notables as , Al Milgrom, Keith Pollard, Michael Netzer,Greg Theakston, and Jim Starlin.

I actually met Arvell, and his brother Desmond (a comics letterer) through my friendship with Michael Netzer who had not yet gone pro at the time. This drawing was published in my one issue fanzine attempt, Fantastic Fan Scene, of which I have the only known surviving copy. Unfortunately, it and several other pieces of artwork ( by Michael Netzer, Howard Chaykin, and my own considerable portfolio) were lost several years ago in a flood at my home ( I still get angry when I think of the inept dishwasher installers whose shoddy work destroyed years of memories).

It was a great time to be a comic book fan in Detroit. Many top artists hailed from Detroit and were more than happy to talk comics and art on the phone with this 13 year old fan ( The long distance charges back then! Detroit to New York). Imagine a film geek actually hanging out with the creators of the movie! That's what it was like for a comics fan back then.

Eventually, as all boys do, I grew older and my interest in comics waned, and I lost touch with these people as I graduated from high school and went into the Coast Guard. Although after awhile I found myself stationed in New York City (comics Mecca), my friends in the business had moved on to bigger and better things than the comics. Many moved to L.A. to work in films (storyboard artists and animators) and I was unable to reconnect with any of them in NYC. Still, I never forgot the pleasure those old comics gave me, and through the magic of the internet, Arvell and I have bumped into each other via Facebook.

Arvell is now back in Detroit and has taught at the Center for Creative Studies, a premier art college in Detroit. I am looking forward to having lunch with him someday soon and hopefully getting some artwork pointers, although my art career is now strictly for my own enjoyment.

Here you see the drawing as it appeared in Fantastic Fan Scene. The lettering at the bottom was originally diagonal on the left, but I have reoriented it.

This version I colorized using my WACOM Intuous IV tablet.

A wedding!

Last Sunday Chris and I attended the wedding of my good friend, Lamont, and his Bride, Mary Beth. It was a beautiful occasion in a beautiful setting, the Nativity of our Lord Church on McClellan St. in Detroit. Lamont and I worked together briefly for Siemens at the Detroit Wayne County Airport and have remained friends for several years. I recently met Mary Beth this winter at their engagement party, and Lamont, you certainly found a keeper!

Although some took pictures during the actual ceremony, I waited to take this picture of the Sanctuary. There is a magnificent stained glass circular window at the opposite end of the room, but darn it, the picture was out of focus!

The wedding party after the nuptials were completed. The Good Lord blessed them with a sunny day. A good omen for a long and happy life together!
The bagpiper led the Bridal procession and played again as the wedding party emerged from the church.
Cutting the wedding cake!

Don't they look so happy and in love?

Man, those shoes are deadly! I want a pair!

It has been a while since I attended a wedding and the occasion helped to remind me how blessed I am to be married to such a wonderful woman these last 22 years. I hope Lamont and Mary Beth will find the happiness that I have had for all of these years.

Memorial Day

As we are Bar-B-Qing our hot dogs, let's take a minute to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free.

Douglas Albert Munro (October 11, 1919 – September 27, 1942) is the only member of the United States Coast Guard to have received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration. Munro received the award posthumously for his actions as officer-in charge of a group of landing craft on September 27, 1942 during the September Matanikau action in the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II.

He volunteered and successfully led five Higgins boats from the seaplane tender BALLARD to evacuate a detachment of Marines from a point where enemy opposition developed beyond anticipated dimensions. Munro's last words were 'Did they get off?'

The citation for the Medal of Honor, was presented in May 1943 by President Roosevelt at the White House. Accepting the award were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of Cle Elum, Washington.

"DOUGLAS ALBERT MUNRO, SIGNALMAN FIRST CLASS, U.S. COAST GUARD
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of a group of Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a Battalion of Marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on September 27, 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines, Munro, under constant risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signalled the others to land, and then in order to draw the enemy's fire and protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his craft with its two small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was killed by enemy fire, but his crew, two of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach. By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave up his life in defense of his country."

Douglas Munro's Medal of Honor is on display at the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey.

In addition to the Medal of Honor Munro also received the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Two ships, the Coast Guard's USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) and the Navy's USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422), as well as a barracks building located at USCG Training Center Cape May (Munro Hall), were named in his honor.

Let us reflect for a moment on the sacrifices of the thousands of men and women who have given their tomorrows for our todays, especially the the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, who are ALWAYS READY (Semper Paratus) to save a life!

Greetings from 13,000 feet

This is the 100th post of Timsblogfest. It has been a pleasure to share my journeys, artwork, and opinions. I never thought that I would have, by this time, gotten over 160,000 views! I guess you all like me! Please click on the first photo to get the full detail of this, my most amazing journey so far.

Our hero kickin' it at 13,000 feet.

After business meetings in Denver I took a few days off to ski in Arapaho Basin, which is on the continental divide 6 miles east of the town of Keystone. First let me tell you that a flat lander such as myself should NEVER go from sea level to this altitude without at least spending a day or two in Denver. Even though I did spend 3 days there before coming up here I was sick as a dog the following morning. Altitude sickness is nothing to fool around with. I had two beers with dinner the night I got here and had a SEVERE hangover (felt like I drank a fifth of Jim Beam on an empty stomach!). I took much Ibuprofen and drank over a gallon of water during the course of the day which only slightly helped. Loss of appetite is another symptom. I DID NOT, however, let that stop me from skiing (but let me tell you, I was not at my best). Exhausted, with a splitting headache, I finally gave it up after 3 hours. I got back to my hotel and proceeded to flake out on the bed (again, drinking copious amounts of H2O ). After about 30 minutes I had enough energy to take a shower and get something to eat. Dinner really helped (eat CARBS!). I actually felt human by bedtime and almost normal by morning. I skied again today and was feeling more like my old self (except that my legs were ON FIRE) , I swear, I'm bringing an O2 bottle next time. I stuck to the blue runs (which are like black ones back east) because man, my legs just don't work as good up here. It was all finesse and little power. Still, I skied well enough that I didn't embarrass myself. I'm skiing one more day so maybe I'll finally acclimate and get back to my usual crazy self. The weather has been spectacular! Highs approaching 60 degrees by noon. The only trouble is that it's like mashed potatoes by 3:30 in the afternoon. I'll be rising early to get there by 8:00 tomorrow.
This place is EPIC! first time in my life that I ever saw bighorn sheep standing by the road (sorry, too busy driving to take a picture).

This is A-Basin after hours. This is only the first chairlift. After you get off of this one you take a second one to the summit, where my first picture is taken from.

This is a little better shot of the Montezuma Bowl area. Way off to the left past the lake is the Breckenridge resort, which is closed for the season. A-Basin faces north, and therefore usually is skiable until June. You can ski here in the morning and golf in Keystone in the afternoon. What and amazing place. If you can see this and not believe in God then you just have no spirit. Simple as that. I thanked Him many times for the privilege of seeing, experiencing, and skiing this magnificent place.

This is the Black Mountain Lodge. It is at the top of the first lift, or just under 12,000 ft. You're only half way there! one more lift ride to the top.

Exhausted after three hours, I sunned my old bones on the patio of the Lodge, staring at the slow moving clouds. The serenity of the moment was shattered by an Air Force F-16 buzzing the resort. It was cool to see it. I bet the pilot was having as much fun as we were.

A-basin trailmap frontside.

Montezuma bowl, backside of resort.

Greeting from the Deep

Just back from my annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach. Heading to Denver tomorrow and Arapaho Basin near Keystone on Wednesday for three days of spring skiing. Highs in the upper 50's and sun forecast for each day. I am just havin' to much fun!

Stuka in color

I just got a WACOM Intuos 4 medium drawing tablet and I am learning how to use it. The one thing that I really like about it is that I can colorize black and white drawings with it like this one.

Black and white now becomes color!

Nub's Nob, Harbor Springs, MI

Skiing is winding down (wah!) but me and friend Tom Danis loaded up the van and drove to Nub's Nob last weekend to take advantage of some spring skiing. It's great to ski in spring. Temps in the 40's and bright sunshine. I even got a little sunburned!

Two of Nun's black diamond runs, Scarface (left) and the Chute. The moguls far right are Twilight zone.

Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, from the summit...

Two ol' mangy coyotes trying to look cool...

A great place to ski, maybe the best skiing in the mitten. No trailmap this time, because Nub's really needs a better one.

Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY

Derek and I went to Holiday Valley to do some skiing a few weeks ago and we enjoyed it very much. although not as challenging as Bristol Mountain, the place was excellent as far as grooming, the lodge, and general quality of the experience. My son the skiing superhero. We actually do sort of look like Batman and Robin when we are festooned in all of our skiing regalia. Skiing is sort of like being a superhero! You get to dress in cool clothes in bright colors and perform superhuman feats of speed and even get to fly if you are brave enough. "To infinity... and beyond! "
This is the top of "Mardi Gras" the longest run at over one mile. A combo green/blue run...




This is the view from the lodge.

Getting on towards sunset, I took this photo from the top of the bowl on the left of the trailmap...

Holiday Valley trailmap.

Instinct

This is a drawing that I did today based on a doodle from a few days ago. Illustration Friday has the topic of the day of "Instinct". Certainly instinct plays a critical role in skiing along with refelexes, coordination, judgement (or lack thereof for barrelling down a mountain on skis at bone breaking speeds at my age) and a Jedi like ability to control your fear. This self portrait was done in my usual style with Higgins India ink and a #1 American Painter brush.

Update: Watercolor coloring applied to reprint of original drawing.

House of Superman

10622 Kimberly Ave., Cleveland, OH 44108

The boyhood and young adult home of Jerry Siegel, the writing half of Siegel and Shuster, creators of the most iconic superhero ever created, Superman. Is there anybody at all who has not heard of this fictional character? Well, I happened to be driving through Cleveland yesterday and decided to have a look at this place where one of the greatest characters of fiction was created.

It was then, and still is, a hard scrabble neighborhood in a beat up area of the city. Certainly, young Jerry must have been inspired by his surroundings to create a hero that could transcend these squalid streets and elevate his imagination to a higher plain. A place where Truth, Justice, and the American way prevailed. It is little wonder why his imagination transported him to this wonderful realm of fantasy. "Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's SUPERMAN!

Superman's house. As you can see, the current owner has tried to keep with the color of Superman's costume. You have the light blue reflected in the porch and gable, red trim, and yellow in the middle. There is a construction dumpster in the driveway, so evidently they are renovatting. It is fitting that such a historic place is not left to rot like so many things in our throwaway culture. Unforunately, it appears that they have a ways to go...

The house next door needs much more work to be presentable.

The street .

H/T to Daniel Best for the address.

Bristol Mountain, NY

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to ski Bristol Mountain in the Finger Lakes region of western New York. I was there in Syracuse on business and brought my skis for this side trip.

It was a little pricey ($50 for a 4 hour lift ticket), but the skiing was definitely worth it. With a vertical of over 1200 feet, it easily beats anything in Michigan, even in the UP.

It was a great experience, and a great way to further hone my skiing skills on some challenging runs. Even though it is a beginner run, their longest run "Milky Way" is over two miles long and took me over 7 minutes to get to the bottom, or three songs on the Ipod.

"Comet" was a double black diamond run that I enjoyed because it is by far the hardest run I have ever skied. It was extremely steep with large moguls and some sheet ice thrown in for extra terror! My skis were sideways and I was still going 35 mph! (Sorry, too busy not getting killed to take a pic!)

For skiing newbies, the trail color code is:
Green-beginner

Blue- more difficult

Black (1 diamond)-most difficult

Black (2 diamonds)-extremely difficult

Black (three diamonds)-experts only

These are two snowscupltures made by the lift operators. The shark had a really cartoony face but since I was loading on the lift I really couldn't get a detailed pic.

Bristol Mountain trail map.

Winter Wonderland

Happy New Year to all my blogger friends. Well, 2008 is over. Good riddance! In four days America will end an error, the Big three have at least temporarily survived, and winter is in full swing. A temperature of -25 (with windchill) broke the record for the coldest day in the D (Detroit). It was not enough to stop me and my son, Derek from skiing at the local ski hill, Mt. Holly .

Me on the left, Derek on the right. Cold as it was, it was a bright, sunny day. Perfect for getting out and shaking off that cabin fever.

This is the top of Derek's favorite run, Canyon. The little shack you see there is the start of the shalom racing course. It drops off steep right past the shack and has a nice combination of speed and ridges on the run to make it interesting...

My favorite run is Thunderbolt. White Lightning is the run off to the left, Thunderbolt is on the right. You can't see the end of either run. The end is past those trees, about 1/4 mile (30 seconds or less). I've thought about trying snowboarding, but they are always sitting on their butts at the top of the hill reattaching their rear binding, which they must unhook at the bottom of the hill to board the chairlift...

The ski patrol. I'd love to join it, but there is a 16 week course that must be completed. Mainly it's first aid, but there are also techniques for transporting injured skiers down via toboggan and such. They are all volunteers, but the big plus is that you get to ski for free all season, on duty or off. It is also reciprocal anywhere in the US. If you are a ski patrol in Michigan you can patrol in Colorado, etc. So if you like to ski and like helping people it's a win win scenario. It would fit nicely with my Coast Guard experience. With all of the traveling I do I don't know how I'd ever get through that long course.

Mt. Holly trailmap.

Big Three Bridge Loan

Normally, I do not like to comment on politics in this blog. Although I comment on political posts at other blogs, it really is not the reason that I started blogging.
So this post will be a rare deviation from the norm.
I am really starting to get fed up with the grand standing in the House and especially the Republican members of the Senate regarding these loans. They are literally a pittance when compared to the TARP funds that Congress has approved for the likes of AIG and the large banks.
Regardless of what you think of GM, Ford, or Chrysler's products, they are the main economic engine of the state of Michigan. We need this money from Washington ( I would like to point out that Michigan is a donor state to the Federal government. In 2005, Michigan got $0.92 for every dollar sent to Washington, while Alabama gets $1.66 H/T O'Tim).
These funds are not a "bailout". Even if these companies eventually do go out of business, the Federal Government will still get their money back as they will be first in line if a bankruptcy occurs, so there is no risk to the American Taxpayer.
I am now, and have always been, a "we're all in this together" type of person. Michigan has been neglected for years and years by the Federal government and it is time for that to stop.
The "Red States" of the south and west are always carping about paying taxes to Washington but by and large benefit from funds received from "Blue States" Like Michigan, California, New York" and others. Seventeen states pay more into Federal taxes than they get back in the form of Federal spending. They are all "Blue States" with the notable exception of Texas (whuch got $0.94 in 2005).
I will not go into all of the tax breaks that the foriegn auto companies got to locate their plants in non-union states in the south, both Federal and State.
If you agree with me that this is inherently unfair, especially in these extremely trying economic times for Michigan, Ohio, and other states, please write, call, of email your Senator and express your opinion.

I also encourage you to visit this website www.boycottalabamanow.com.

Here is the text of an email that I wrote to Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama:

Senator Shelby;

I am a resident of Michigan. Our state has been in recession since 2002. Although I am employed, many of our people are having trouble finding employment and if you insist on driving General Motors and Chrysler out of business, our unemployment rate could reach 15% or more.That's a depression.

Our state is struggling really bad, and we are all doing the best we can up here. When Wall Street had a crisis, you and others handed them 700 billion dollars. If you divide that up 50 ways, you get 14 billion. Okay, fine. Just give Michigan the money that we sent to Washington to keep our main economic engine alive and stop the grand standing. We are asking for a LOAN. This money will be paid back. I find the hypocracy of Washington politicians telling us that we overpromised workers and retirees ridiculous when your party has gone on a spending spree like a bunch of drunken sailors over the last eight years.I did not see one Wall St. CEO getting humiliated by congress for days on end when they got 50 times the amount of money from the government. You all just handed it over to them and they won't even lend it to anyone. They are using it at luxury resorts and to buy each other's bank, and not to stop the forclosure crisis.

I was disgusted to see how our business leaders were treated by you and others. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever set foot in your filthy swamp of a state. I will never buy anything that is produced by your state. I don't know why you feel that it is the right thing to do to attack a state that has never done anything to Alabama, but if trade war and boycott is what you want, then so be it.

Just remember, there may be a day when Michigan is in a position to help Alabama during a hurricane or some such disaster. I will say "let them suffer, they are not worth the dirt on my shoes".
You need to stop this opposition and not kick a fellow state that is down. We are in desperate need or we would never go through the humiliation you and others are subjecting us to. It is just plain sadistic.

Even President Bush has said that we must not let the American Auto industry die. He is the head of your party. Listen to him.If you do not, Michigan will never forget the mortal blow that you will inflict on us.
I don't know why I am bothering to write this. Someone as arrogant as yourself probably thinks that the "little people" like me don't count. We have seen how you and your corrupt ilk hold the common man in contempt.

Just remember, some day it could be Alabama on the ropes. When that happens, I will personally tell you to go to hell.

Very Truly Yours Tim Gasco, Lifelong Michigan resident and veteran

Duluth, MN

I've still got a few pics from DC (Air and Space Museum, National Portrait Gallery, etc.) that I will be posting, but I've got some other interesting pics this fall. I was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to visit my daughter, Meredith, who is an English major at Northern Michigan University. I snapped a couple of pics of the two lighthouses there and a few of the Lake Michigan shoreline that I will share soon.

These pictures were taken at sunrise on Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. This is a neat town, but I'll tell you, it's cold there all year. 70 degrees is a tropical heat wave, and it is painful to get into Lake Superior anywhere above the knees. I've been here a few times, especially when in the Coast Guard over twenty five years ago.I was there on November 10th, the 33rd anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, probably the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck of all time, because of the Gordon Lightfoot song.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee."The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead when the skies of November turn gloomy.With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty,that good ship and true was a bone to be chewed when the "Gales of November" came early.
The ship was the pride of the American side coming back from some mill in Wisconsin.As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most with a crew and good captain well seasoned,concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms when they left fully loaded for Cleveland.And later that night when the ship's bell rang,could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound and a wave broke over the railing.And ev'ry man knew, as the captain did too 'twas the witch of November come stealin'.The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait when the Gales of November came slashin'.When afternoon came it was freezin' rainin the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'."Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."At seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in; he said,"Fellas, it's bin good t'know ya!"The captain wired in he had water comin' in and the good ship and crew was in peril.And later that night when 'is lights went outta sight came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does any one know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay if they'd put fifteen more miles behind 'er.They might have split up or they might have capsized;they may have broke deep and took water.And all that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings in the rooms of her ice-water mansion.Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams;the islands and bays are for sportsmen.And farther below Lake Ontario takes in what Lake Erie can send her,And the iron boats go as the mariners all know with the Gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed,in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral."The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee.""Superior," they said, "never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early!"

Washington Monument and the Capitol

This picture was taken from the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

This, the most phallic of all monuments, is befitting the "father of our country"

A cool civil war battle scene on the Capitol grounds...

Dad and Derek near the Capitol steps...