Halloo, I’m back. This site was down again all weekend so I finally left Affordablehost, my home for five years, for the it – seems – to – me more reliable Axishost. You can read about — and possibly learn from — why I did so on this page.

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My Arn turned, umm, another year wiser last weekend! 😉 How did we celebrate it? Why with food, food, and more food of course. See the phlog for more pics.

I got him a dress watch and the first season of the 1970s series The Incredible Hulk on DVD and I’ve been watching along, which is a first since I usually get him DVDs for his birthdays ((Last year it was The Alien Quadrilogy, the other year it was Flash Gordon and Battlestar Galactica, and the year before it was the collector’s edition of 2001: A Space Odyssey.)) but I don’t last long watching them. I didn’t think I’d actually get hooked on Hulk since I never got to watch it when I was young ((Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman being whom I considered superheroes)) but it’s very engaging and the way it’s produced makes the situations look so real — bellbottoms, sideburns notwithstanding.

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Hanging out and spending time with good friends has become extremely difficult now that everyone’s always busy nowadays. Thankfully though, most of us were able to sync our schedules these past couple of weeks. Again, more pics in the phlog.

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Check it out, the great komikero himself, Gerry Alanguilan made a short video featuring an interview with Arn in time for his birthday, no less. Thanks “cousin” Gerry! 😉

You can view — and learn from — all his videos here.

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By the way, for those of you looking to find extraordinary works to experience, I made a list of graphic novels that are big in heart — basically, stories that made me fall in love with the medium of graphic storytelling. These exemplify what I think has just the right mix of narrative and pretty pictures: not too artsy that the stories don’t make sense anymore, and not too wordy or high falutin that there’s no room to appreciate the story and illustrations. Let me know what you think. 🙂

Encouraged by a sudden increase in sales in my Cafepress shops ((Most of the buyers are US-based. I have a feeling it must be because school is about to start and everyone wants new shirts to wear. Alright!)), I decided to open a few more last week. Four are wedding-related since (1) I’m immersed in the industry hence it’s the easiest to make designs for; and (2) guess what, 80% of my sales are coming from the bridal shop ((Plus according to Cafepress’ newswire, the “weddings” tag is among the most sought after, well well well!)).

iDo shirts for the iPod-loving couple! (Hello, Carlo and Nina 😉 )

“Always a bridesmaid, finally a bride” tees for the been-waiting-for-mr.-right bride.

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And because I didn’t want to totally sell out, I made “Tsinelas (flip-flops) Addict” and “Bayong (basket bags) Addict” tees and knick-knacks as the second part of my Pinoy series.

You can see all the other new shops here ((You won’t believe it but Arn has shops of his own too, and his products sell even faster than any of mine! He wants to keep them secret for now but someday I’ll share the links with you. 😉)).

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My Arn recently received a really nice email from Jasper Lloyd Tan of Cagayan de Oro-based Christian pop-rock band Thoughts and Notions ((They play music in the tradition of Jars of Clay and Sixpence None the Richer.)). Jasper says that (Arn’s book) After Eden inspired him so much that he wrote a song about it called “Earthbound Angel” ((I was really touched when I learned about it — I’m sure you can tell how proud I am of my husband’s work and I know how much he’s inspired his readers but inspiring someone to write a song with a wonderful message, now that’s a first.))

Excerpt:
I could choose to soar above the skies
And be one with the flight of angels
But I am here in this world for one purpose
To be with you and be your guide
And be your earthbound angel.

Band info and streaming audio here.