Frail-ing Youth: Orthopedic Weakness -- Part 3

It's been a while since my last entry on the subject of knee misalignment and a lot more pressing matters took priority. I've attended physical therapy twice every week.  My insurance would cover only a small time period, so I worked to make sure I could meet my goals in time, which I did.........ahead of schedule. Although the therapists sent me on my way to continue my knee therapy at home, my story is no where near the end.

Strengthening Regiments

During my weight loss I conditioned my lower leg to push my weight up the steps to avoid the pain of bending knees (and social humiliation of acting like an old lady). So for my first regiment was to re-build the muscles in my knees.


This was where I found myself trapped in catch 22--in order to build back said knee muscles, I had to endure the pain from all that conditioning, meaning I had to walk and bend like an old lady. I didn't mind, though, since the only people to see me were Physical therapists and other patients with their own injuries. I could finally let go and be honest. the more I was the more I didn't have to hide the pain, and could see how much I progressed. So to keep my knees in shape I was given homework:

Every time I get a chance, I worked the at-home regiments when I could. It was practical and convenient. All you need was the space and the time. When I couldn't get to a treadmill or cycle I would do 30 step ups with each leg, which it not only built my knee strength but got the heart beating and the calories burning. And you can get it done on any flight of stairs.

Another regiment involves the the seemingly simple exercise of laying on your back and lifting one leg up halfway. This is where you discover new muscles that haven't gotten much work in walking or biking alone.  I eventually worked my muscles enough to add leg weights.



                                      

Several months have passed as I continued this routine. With time I eventually moved up to high intensity regiments such as pulling myself across the room in a rolling chair with my lower legs or leaning back and forth with one knee strapped to a weight.  It's weird how the seemingly laziest things can really work your muscles.

Who'd ever think this could be exercise?

After all these regiments I made sure to put some ice on my knee--VERY IMPORTANT if you plan on actually walking the rest of the day. Like any other muscle, the knees need some recovery.

Lifestyle Changes

It's definitely a lifestyle change as well. I've had to stop carrying an excessive load in my backpack, instead using roll bags or lessening my load. As mentioned in part one, the knees can only handle so much weight, so I might as well take control of the weight I can. When I lift myself from sitting I make sure my posture makes use of the muscles in my knees.

Posture Helps
Today we laugh at how much of a big deal educational films of the 1950s made about perfect posture, but as I often found myself standing for long periods at work. How my body reacted to that definitely depended on how I positioned myself.  As my therapist reminded me, as a woman, we have broader hips, which effected our posture differently from males. It was easier for our legs and lower back to become misaligned when standing or walking on certain surfaces or climbing steps. Whether you stand straight and firmly balanced on both legs, or leaning slouched on your side definitely will determine whether you go home a little sore or looking like you just crawled out of an accident.

As of this post, my knees have not fully returned to their appropriate alignment (that may take longer), but I no longer feel the pain I once tried to avoid. However, I found out the hard way that after mile two of walking, my right knee pretty much tells me to stop in it's wonderful, crippling way.  But even walking requires proper posture and footwear. However my left knee cap is visibly moving back to it's center position where it belongs.

Con Week Part 2: HeroesCon 2013

After a three day at ConCarolinas [June 1-3, 2013], my body reminded me it was 15 years older and needed to slow down, so I took some time to rest between work shifts. By friday [6/5/2013] I was finally ready for round two at the comic convention known as HeroesCon. Although they followed ConCarolinas by a week, I had HeroesCon on my calendar for a good year. ConCarolinas was a last minute invitation. Looking back, ConCarolinas helped me ease into the environment of HeroesCon a lot better than I probably would have without so. Talk about your blessings in disguise.

For those unfamiliar with Charlotte, HeroesCon is the signature comic convention of local franchise Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, has been the standard comic convention in Charlotte for a good 30 years.  For three days Lynx riders garnered a little entertainment sharing a ride uptown with people in costumes. When I made it to the Charlotte Convention Center, The showroom was so big I think a good hour passed before I completed the outer circle. It took at least another hour to complete the inner rings. 

I ran into familiar faces from ConCarolinas, such as the Carolina Ghostbusters and Comic Illustrator Tom Fleming. They must've been as tired as I was.

Panels

Con or College class?

Well, there were panels, of course, but they didn't define define the overall experience. Alumni and staff from the Savannah College of Art and Design hosted this year's educational workshops and drawing contest attended by writers, illustrators, as well as any young student who wanted to learn either. For anybody who is not sure where to take their career path, I surely recommend attending for the workshops.

The first workshop I attended covered the growing world of self-publishing. Indie comics and zines are a subcategory of comics that is still unknown by the greater population and may not be known to newbie artists only familiar with superheroes and newspaper syndicates. SCAD alumnus David Allen Duncan held a workshop on mini comics, showing attendees the variety of handmade comics and binding styles one can create. It's very fascinating to see how professional one can make a handmade comic look with only 11 x 17 photocopied construction paper and access to a basic photocopier.

Later on, I joined several illustrators in one of their ongoing drawing contests. We drew whatever came to our minds for 20 minutes and submitted the work with our name and contact info.  I sat there with with children as young as three to people old enough to be their great grandparents (I'm not kidding, there were people who had to be in their 70s in that room). I didn't win, of course, but I was glad to get my talent out there to be seen while getting to see the talent of those around me. If the parents keep up the good work, will be a lot of future published illustrators coming out of that room.

Eyevis

I did give myself a break and stopped for a little entertainment panel for Eyevis- an animated short by Dave Johnson about the one-eyed son of a Cthulhu creature and a human mom living in what Johnson calls a "leave-it-to-beaver neighborhood" As sick and twisted as it was, I was pretty amused. Eyevis's humor and atmosphere reminded me of MTV in the '90s and could easily fit on Adult Swim's line-up. 

I assume there's an online lockdown by Viacom, so you may not find too much in Google images results or Dave Johnson's social media profiles. I refused to photograph the guy's stuff, so you're gonna have to wait until it's released.

Meeting Artists

It's overwhelming to meet some of the artists responsible for redirecting your comics career path. One of them included, Frank Cho of Liberty Meadows and Savage Wolverine fame, whom I had not expected to see at all until I came across his table. All my issues of  Liberty Meadows and University^2 resided an hour away in Greensboro, so he signed my schedule book. 

Out of nowhere, my 17 year old personality took over from some dormant region in my brain, unleashing a giggling frenzy that made a situation more awkward than it already was. Thankfully I was able to redeem myself later when I sat in a panel he co-hosted discussing humor in comics.

See Frank, I wasn't lying!

Comics Beat has a much better article on said panel so just read their's:

http://comicsbeat.com/on-the-scene-going-too-far-humor-in-comics-with-cho-dorkin-bagge-rickard-at-heroes-con-2013/

Ducks, Detectives and Demographics

At a earlier panel, Don Rosa, Joe Stanton, the respective current artists for The life and Times of Scrooge McDuck and Dick Tracy respectively, and their moderator, Tom Hetjies, editor of the magazine Hogan's Alley, provided a discussion on their respective comics and the diverged preference of genres between the US and International comic markets.

One detail that has contributed to this perception was the ever changing nature of comic availability. I remember going into a 7-Eleven and being able to grab an X-men or Sonic comic off the rack near the newspaper stand. Mr. Rosa sadly reminded us of  Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown tried to grab a comic off the highest rack of a newsstand shelf. Rosa commented on how the joke was lost on young readers because they could not understand the concept of buying a comic at a newsstand.

   As disappointing as it sounded, I was given a warning just before the panel began. I was outside the panel room brandishing my cell phone trying to get a signal on my phone when I heard someone behind me. It was Don Rosa.
    "This is why I don't do American Panels" he muttered to Hetjies as he entered the room. 

   With a space prepared for 100 people, only 12 arrived, including myself.  Though Rosa and Stanton inherited their comic sources, the sources themselves are classics and long runners. I could not blame the public response too much, but there were too many factors influencing their decisions. The panel was scheduled on a Sunday at 10:00am, suggesting where the gentlemen stood in the hierarchy of public demand and event scheduling. Sad, considering a gentleman and his son traveled all the way from Norway to see Don Rosa just avoid the convention crowds in his home country. Yeah, that says a lot about the our respective cultures.  During the panel, I had to ask him what brought about this divergence in preference. Rosa explained that during WW2 the populace only had access to donald duck Comics via the allied troops. In later years, the increasing limitations by the comics code, cultural differences, and access walls by corporations like Disney further added to the schism.

   It's bad enough that Hollywood movies are becoming increasing inbred, featuring the same plots starring the same actors, but comics need the variety that helped it survive the comics code, and if that is whittled down to few options, then American pop culture is doomed.

I have a lot to say about this but I'll continue in a later post.

   As an artist myself, the still surviving popularity of comics like Uncle Scrooge and Dick Tracy remind me that my options are open when I explore my own career and the United States is not the end-all to a flourishing career. I don't have to pigeonhole myself into narrow genres or interests to fit what these some hollow-minded corporation defines as "comics". If the US ignores me and some other country loves my stuff, well, I'm getting on a plane and greeting my foreign fans. There is a saying that you're never a hero in your own home town. Their loss. 

..... And Diversity

Since I brought up genre diversity in comics, diversity of the more obvious kind was on my mind as I explored the con. As expected, black artists and attendees would be in the numerical minority, with black female artists an even bigger minority. However I did encounter one with a table --
Afua Richardson. The roster changes every year, so definitely check with the website every year.

A cosplayer as X-Men's Storm

With Afua Richardson

Drink N Draw

Before the first day could officially end, those who didn't want to return home (but couldn't stay at the convention center) hopped a block over to the Hilton Center City for a little Drink N Draw. Original works by renowned comic artists were being auctioned off with proceeds going to Parkinson's research.

Original work from "zits" creator Jerry Scott

"Mutts" work signed by Patrick McDonnell

Attendees also contributed their own pieces of artwork onto HeroesCon brand coasters, memo paper or their own sketchbook paper to donate as they enjoyed alcoholic drinks of their choice. My contribution to the auction received the attention of Terry Maltos (representing the work of late brazilian artist Al Rio) who invited me to a bigger auction the next night,  and local Charlotte area Artist John Hairston Jr, who thought I had a table! A sign that I really need to get my "S" together and get back to work.

The following Saturday, Maltos invited me to a bigger auction were I got to see the results of artists who spent most of the previous convention days buried in their canvases, whipping up original pieces for purposes no one knew until we arrived to see the finished products all over to the Westin ballroom.

Artists working on their auction pieces.

One of the first items on the block was the complete collection of Calvin and Hobbes signed by Bill Watterson. As the haggler announced, this was the equivalent of getting "Catcher in the Rye" signed by J.D. salinger. It took some time, and $1,000 but someone did buy the collection. Smart man.

John Hairston Jr's work was purchased for $250.

Check more about the auction at this link from Comic Art Community:
http://comicartcommunity.com/2013/06/heroes-con-2013-art-auction-walk-through/

Final Thoughts

I moved to Charlotte just when HeroesCon 2012 was in full effect and promised myself to attend the following year. It was worth the wait.  I met people I had not expected to, made connections I had not expected to.  For the whole experience, the only thing I had to pay for was registration -- $40. That pretty much beats tuition and two years of school work if you need to update your skills or simply want to explore uncharted territory. Any other expenses --food, paraphernalia, souvenirs --were up to me.

As of now, I'v been trying to fix what's broken, and been working on whatever's in development hell. By the time Heroes Con 2014 rolls by, I hope to at least join the ranks of the table set. Well see.

More Links

Terry Maltos --http://thecharmedcomics.wikia.com/wiki/Terry_Maltos
                       http://mycolorist.com/

John Hairston Jr.---http://allcitystudios.com/home.html

Afua Richardson-- http://www.afuarichardson.info/

The Zimmerman Verdict: United States of Abuse

  If the verdict of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman Trial has shown anything, it's that the that the "Stand Your Ground" law does not apply to black people (like Marissa Alexander) and justice as a concept in this nation hasn't been blind in centuries. Another of these implications, however, scares me the most.

Trayvon was killed for looking threatening as a young black male, but this country's black sons are not the only ones in danger.  I'm a tall girl -- Standing 6'0" (183 cm)-- and ever since I've reached that height  around puberty in I've learned that in some communities I was seen as threatening by those I towered over. And like a lot of brown-to dark-skinned black american girls, my relaxed expression is read as "bitchy" or simply walking is interpreted as an aggressive gesture. It didn't matter what I wore--A dress, jogging outfit, business suit-- someone thought I would hurt them. But I can't help it, I can't shrink. And I can't lighten my skin. And I cant spend the rest of my life watching how I move my body.  Of course that's the other person's problem, not mine, right? But wait--now that this verdict has pretty much given non-black Floridians the "A-Ok" to shoot anyone they feel is threatening them, meaning I now have to fear getting shot because some paranoid freak thinks the body God gave me is a sign of attack? Really?It was bad enough I had to continue shaping myself to meet another group's constantly shifting comfort level but I have to do so just to stay alive? I can't control how others see me but I will be damned if I have to die for it.

Again. (RIP Emmett)

Too many black women and girls are already dying by stray bullets and the murderous hands of their own men, are they to fear the paranoia of non-blacks as well?  Marissa used the SYG law to protect her family from the former, and now with her in jail, her children may end up vulnerable to the latter. Is there no safe place for the black woman?

I've had enough.

Florida will never see me or any of my progeny again.  And I hope other blacks follow suit. Any other state that chooses to adopt this horrible law will meet the same fate. I'm sure Maryland, the state where I learned about my "threatening" appearance, will probably be next. God knows I've seen many mental breakdowns in the black community there. Sadly if this sick disease of the "Stand Your Ground" law goes national, I will leave the country.

I have learned to leave abusive environments a long time ago and the US has never stopped abusing its black people. Well, now that it has Hispanics, Asians, Multiracial and other so-called "people of color" to fill it's diversity quota, perhaps it won't need black people to push around.  Seriously, USA, don't come at me with that "But you were born here" Bull "s" either. I may have been born here, but even family will abandon each other if the abuse is bad enough, and it is.



We can't bring Trayvon back, but we can get Marissa out. Justice for Marissa.
 http://justiceformarissa.blogspot.com/


Kola Boof Speaks on the Verdict:

http://www.kolaboof.com/engaged.htm


Petition to repeal the "Stand Your Ground" Law:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/563/278/407/?z00m=20594296

Con Week Part 1: ConCarolinas

I had the fortune of attending not one but two SciFi/fantasy Conventions consecutively at the beginning of June. The first was ConCarolinas, going into its 7th year, followed by HeroesCon, a staple of the Charlotte area for 20 years. After so much at such a it takes assume time to reflect on what feels like the longest party I've been to since that one back in…8th grade?


While I enjoyed Charlotte Mini-con, a sub of Charlotte Comicon, I must admit that in hindsight I was a bit let down by it being only a vendor's show room and nothing more. After you've walked thought all the tables there's nothing else to do but go home. When I was invited to attend the ConCarolinas however, I was a bit apprehensive, but at least I wouldn't have to attend alone this time. With only the Charlotte mini con as my last experience, I didn't expect too much, only planning to look around for an hour before leaving. To my surprise, though, I unearthed a lot of social gems that never seems to get recognition. While Charlotte Mini-con was a vendor show-room and nothing more, ConCarolinas showcased scheduled panels that stood out as familiar to a person in my profession: "Writer's workshops". The panels provide you a change to engage in conversation with those whom would otherwise stand silently.

Reality versus Myth (no pun intended)

Too often the mainstream media like to focus primarily on the Q & A sessions consisting of celebrities answering trivial questions from unwashed and costumed basement dwellers.  While those stereotypes are justified, depending on the social circle near you, the reality is that most of the attendants span an age range from 2 to 70 , aside from the costumes, is that many of the are (gasp) articulate, worldly and many more have arrived with their spouses and children in tow.

There were celebrities, of course.

Kandyse McClure from Battlestar Galactica

Jason Carter from Babylon 5

 So before I get that far in this story, let me scale back to what made this con so special to me…..

Openess

Covering most of the Hilton University's lower level, the con represented a crosshatch of different fan tracks peacefully mingling such as ghost hunting, gaming, and steampunk.

The Carolina Ghostbusters

 No one feuded or fought.  Everyone respected one another's interest. We were all nerds, so there was no "pot and kettle-ing" allowed here, and I loved it.


Except Bronies. Everyone made fun of Bronies… and Twilight fans.

Though a possible furry may have slipped through.

Culture within Culture

I knew the creative worlds have always found ways to combine their interests and skills, but I never knew about the combination of fandom and music called "Filk". The video below shows a few people who've made names for themselves by embracing this subgenre:

Panels, Forums and Workshops 

While a lot of panels featured celebrities and creators, as expected there were a few that allowed for more than simple entertainment. For example, one panel titled international  "Why Aren't We in Space?", where panelists discussed China's plans to send a man to mars, bringing up the many political and social factors that pushed man to visit the moon and what would current motivate us again. Another panel titled "Rise of the internet tough guy" invited attendees to discuss internet cruelty and answer the question of whether people are truly anonymous online.  One young lady even shared her own forum experience witnessing an online discussion where someone retaliated to a disagreement by calling the "offender's" boss, resulting in that person's termination. It was not just another sad reminder of the debilitating state of tolerance among people, but our continuing taboo status in society. Other panels featured discussions and workshops with writers, zinesters, musicians and illustrators sharing the latest info to those looking to enter their respective fields.

Game rooms

One of the ballrooms hosted a X-box gaming station where you could log online for a game of Black Ops. I had not played a console since the Nintendo 64, and felt the need to at least try to catch up and this was my opportunity. It was not easy maneuvering a controller with 9 buttons when you're used to 6, but Luckily I had teenage gaming partners who didn't mind an adult noob who's avatar kept running in circles and made a easy target. Even Mario had to go through several game overs before he reached world 8, right?

If your gaming didn't involve a joystick, the SCARAB gaming convention and the local Charlotte Geeks hosted two board gaming rooms. One had the usual RPG gaming tables but I was more of a "Cards against Humanity" kind of person.

The Charlotte geeks's game room featured a "traffic light" game -- a concept similar to speed dating where you get a few minutes to speak with someone before everyone switches tables. Most of us were not looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend (I think a few were married) and were just using the pop to but it was fun just getting to know new people that share your interests without having to go to a bar.
With so many activities, my original plan for a couple-hour stay stretched all the way into the rest of Friday night.

And more Fun!

If a panel or workshop was not in session, it didn't mean that something wasn't going on.  Attendees could catch other events just outside the hotel, such as dalek rides through the hotel corridors!

That thing can fit an adult inside. NOT a Tardis joke.

The Pineapple-shaped Lamps, a improv group out of Wilmington, NC held their own improv show the first night, channeling the "Whose line" cast and did a damn good job of it. The following Saturday night, two of their members entertained the guests with a fire-dancing routine.



I eventually decided to sacrifice one more night of sleep to see them one last time in a Rocky Horror Shadow cast!

Sorry, No Vid.

By Sunday, the air was ripe with feelings of hangover and tables were gradually being disassembled.  I technically wasn't out of town (the hotel was a 15 minute drive) but I felt like I didn't want to go home. But alas, like everyone else, I had a job and other priorities to return to for Monday. That week became busier that ever once I had to squeeze in extra chores as I prepared for HeroesCon!

Click here for Part 2 of ConWeek!

Hail Yes!

As of this posting, the city of Greensboro received another barrage of east-coast hail with an aftertaste of mild flooding. Marble sized hail pellets, in case anyone from the midwest is reading (yes, I've been told about the "baseball-sized" ones). This is only my second time experiencing this phenomenon, never having experienced it anywhere else on the east coast.

I was lucky enough to video record my first experience with hail and the subsequent flooding at one of my internships. Armed only with my Canon 2100, my computer's camera and a bit of editing magic, I was able to patch a narrative of Elsewhere Artist Collaborative's 2011 fight of the flood invasion!

Trucking for Food

It's food truck time again down in South End Charlotte. Two days of the finest dishes all within walking distance (well, for me). Even two cupcake Vendors (Cupcake Delirium and The Cupcake Queen) and Ice Cream Trucks.  Couples, friends and families gathered to get a taste of unique delicacies like rib burritos and gourmet grilled cheese while they picnic for a concert by local sponsors.

"What's so damn special about food trucks?" I can sense that one reader asking out in the depths of the internet. Well, think about this: a lot of folks are broke, right? And out of anything that gets cut from a weekly budget, it's the usually the food you can't pick up to take home, right? Well, of the trucks I've patronized, the food is restaurant quality (with a few using locally grown ingredients) that charge an average $8 to $10 for a full meal. Now, if I had to choose between the Qdoba for another chicken burrito, and a food truck where I got to experience something new, I think I'd rather spend my money on the Oaxacan Chicken Tacos, thank you very much.

Complete with that iron skillet smell.

So….where was I? Ah yes….


This kind of event happened only once a month, so naturally I hightailed it down the block to pick a truck I hadn't experienced before and got in line. A really long line.

I didn't care, as long as the ends justified the means. As I entertained my line wait, I look around the area and couldn't help but there was one food "truck" whose absence I couldn't help but notice  --The Chrome Toaster. 

A frequent staple of South Boulevard and East Bland Street, the chrome-painted school bus was sorely missed but had a good reason for it.  Not long ago, their bus caught fire, resulting in irreparable damage. In the last couple months however, The Chrome Toaster launched a Kickstarter campaign to purchase a new school bus for their business. As of this week (6/22/2013 ) I received my obligatory Kickstarter notice that Chrome Toaster had reached their goal. I can't wait to see the Silver bus back in South End, and a rib burrito back in my hands.

I'm Not Dead.

After so many posts, you're probably wondering "where did she go?"

Welp, to answer that question, a lot has happened in the past three weeks that has kept me off focus.

I have a post in progress but I'd rather delay a good blog post than publish a really rushed and terrible one. But at least you guys know I have a life.


Until then, stay seated.



roX