GratefulReflex

It all began with me sorting through my personal library of books; the shelves needed dusting and I figured I would re-read something as a break from my normal assigned reading. Every season I set out to read a bare minimum of six books preferably related to my profession and if not, history.  While I cleaned I came across the boxed set of ‘Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark’ by Alvin Schwartz, which was illustrated by Stephen Gammell. I’d been introduced to this series before I was in high school and the books held a lot of spooky nostalgia for me, as they were what turned me on to horror movies and folklore. The stories were excellent since Alvin Schwartz was a skilled tory teller but the art was epic as Stephen Gammell’s art really sold the books. If you dare to google Gammell’s art you will see that his art has its own style that some have roughly recreated but has been never imitated.  So of course, it stuck in my brain…I decided that some how or some way I would learn to produce art like that. In reality, this was before the internet really caught on and dial-up was the only way to connect so there was no fast way to research only study of his available art from ‘Scary stories to tell in the dark – more tales to chill your bones’. Unfortunately, I was terribly unsuccessful as I had no idea where to begin and my forays into painting went in a different direction.  

Enter the age of Amazon.com and suddenly I was able to order all three books in the series in a nice collector’s edition and yes, I did so. This spurred a search for the artist himself and surprisingly he was still producing stuff, the sad pat is that Alvin Schwartz died on the 14^th of march 1991 roughly a year after the third scary stories book was published. Even with that loss, Gammell produced a long list of works which I encourage you all to check out.  As far as I can tell and everyone is welcome to correct me if I am wrong, but there is no online guide to demonstrate how Gammell produced his art; but there are second party approximates and that’s ok.  Still, the man is 75, and he is as far as an illustrator goes a modern American legend, I just hope he keeps on producing art. If any of you remember this guy or were inspired by the ‘Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark’ series reply to this journal with your thoughts. In my next post I’ll talk about an even more obscure series of novels from the same time frame.

Well you knew this was coming didn’t you? It is official 2017 is as terrible a year thus far as 2016 was. Below are my two comments regarding the deaths of Paul O'Neill, and Gregg Allman respectively as I got the news. If you don't know who these guys are; well I suggest you look at 80’s and classic rock respectively.
 
"Paul O'neill, the man who made Christmas rock, he who turned the bland Christmas choir into a rock and roll ensemble and made the holidays something to doubly look forward to. I do not know if Trans Siberian Orchestra will continue at all, but I know this, I have CD's from the past glory days  of TSO and will remember the time however brief on the mortal coil when Christmas was invaded by the glory of rock and roll."
 
"Damn....first I hear the lead of Trans-siberian Orchestra and now this....could 2017 suck any less at any point? Gregg may you rest in peace, know that classic rock especially never forgets and in of that you are a legend that cannot ever find compare."

We are unfortunately of an age where we get to see the old rockers who changed it all feel their age; we've lost Bowie and Prince and several others and it's no less sad even if you were not a fan because we will never see these guys and gals make another witty comment while being interviewed or make another deep musical commentary about the ails of the world or hell just flippantly remind us that they too are human. I think it's the humanity that gets lost in the shuffle of popularity, we expect that these people will go on forever but in reality they are mortal even if their contributions to culture and music are functionally immortal.

What do all of you think?

“You call me a fool
You say it's a crazy scheme
This one's for real
I already bought the dream
So useless to ask me why
Throw a kiss and say goodbye
I'll make it this time
I'm ready to cross that fine line”

Steely Dan – ‘Deacon Blues’

On the  28th of January 2017 we jointly decided (Aaron and I) decided that no, titan was not Lost Galaxy material and so I set about the dirty work of that decision. He had already been kicked out of the group a few days before when the leadership changed but now his final proof existence was a point of contention. Aaron had been there when Titan betrayed Ancerious Galaxy twice and had a very clear opinion of Titan. I was the outgoing leader of Lost Galaxy, I was tired of being in charge and tired of mopping up everyone’s messes and then Titan made a new one; one I could not ignore. Normally when a member leaves they do so and don’t level accusations but titan did not go quietly, he called me a viper and called the Lost Galaxy group a den of snakes. This is an affront I do not intend to let stand, but I will cover this later because Titan/Jarl (aka madcomm on DA)’s conduct needs to be clarified and made available to the general population. Jarl is  decent artist and I will not take that from him but at first he will grace you with his  “skills” he’ll gift art…a fair amount of it and ultimately he will expect a ranking position in your group because he’ll think he deserve that level of respect.  After he’ll usurp your leadership hell start telling your members about how he has a better system and the existing one is terribly bad even if it is not. Finally if he does not get his way hell quit your group; storming out rudely blaming you for everything despite the fact he started everything.

To quote what he said after I kicked him out of the Lost Galaxy group LG I was a “Viper from a pit of snakes”, dull surprise Titan/Jarl/Madcomm. For you it is always someone else’s fault and not yours because apparently you are  nigh perfect and have no personality flaws. I for one am truthfully glad to see you go because you are not my problem but, I know that someone will eventually contact me to inquire about you. Know that I will hold nothing back in consideration of your previous transgressions. You made an absolute enemy with your underhanded comment and that will be the stain on your record that will out live you.

This has been a cautionary tale  about trusting those who seem talented and seek to butter you up for all of those who look at my DA page.