A Detour to the Second City

Normally, when I would write a post like this, it would start with a warning in big, bold letters in a different font - In the interests of full disclosure, a complimentary ticket was provided for this post. However, the tickets came at the right time for me emotionally - my mother has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months, and my sense of humor was sorely out of whack. (But not so much that, when one coworker asked for another coworker's headband, I asked if he was planning to wear red leather and sing "Working for the Weekend"). But I've only been to Second City once before, years ago - dating a woman on a regular basis (my first "real" girlfriend), not going anywhere, but howling with laughter at News for Dogs with its generation-defining cry of "snacky wacky time" However, the current review, America - All Better!, was a complete and absolute blast. Obviously, it's taking aim at the slightly over-the-top hopes in the wake of the Obama presidency...but it contains some real comedic gems. And oh, is it funny....two couples at various relationship stages have a discussion. Mayor Daley impresses the Olympic committee. Students in a public speaking class face their fears. Two WWE wrestlers And my personal highlight - a wedding DJ makes some...well, unusual choices for an impending event. To say any more would be spoiling a wall-to-wall entertaining show. Although the entire cast is simply brilliant, major kudos need to go to Lauren Ash. No, it's not necessarily her resume or her ability to handle herself onstage...it's just that, well, I imagine with our combined intelligence, wit, and looks, we could create a race of genetic superbeings destined to rule the planet. So Lauren, please, call me. Seriously. But anyway, enough of my yakkin' - in recent months, it has felt like I've been going through the motions in many aspects of my life. So much so that I've felt like my blogging has become cookie-cutter, with a lack of personality to it. Thanks to Second City for the reminder that sometimes, it's best to just work without a net...and that improv is more than just a theatrical tool.

I'll Be Published: ALWAYS PUNCH NAZIS

I'm proud to announce that my Black Bat comic story, One Bullet Too Many, will be appearing in the Pilot Studios anthology Always Punch Nazis.

Proceeds benefit Southern Poverty Law Center; learn more about the Always Punch Nazis Kickstarter by clicking this link.

My Plans for August 2nd

Check out the details about this Raks Inferno fundraising event which features one of my fellow C2E2 panelists.

Donate An Item to the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction

(Photo by Gordon Dymowski)

Yes, it's that time of year again...I'm running the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction, and I'm looking for donations! Two of my friends have already made their intentions clear (and they know who they are), so I thought that as a public service I would highlight (via my personal blog) exactly what you need to do!

So in other words, here are the donor guidelines for the Chicago TARDIS charity auction:

2017 CHICAGO TARDIS CHARITY AUCTION DONATION GUIDELINES

DONATIONS 

Note: Chicago TARDIS will no longer collect canned or non-perishable food items during the convention. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please donate directly to Northern Illinois Food Bank via http://bit.ly/ChiTARDISAuction and send the receipt to auction@chicagotardis.com

• Chicago TARDIS must receive notification of donations by November 18th, 2017 at 11:59 pm. Walk-in donations without prior registration will not be accepted
• Arrangements for delivery of donated items must be made by November 23rd, 2017. Incomplete items will not be listed or displayed.
• Donations may be delivered to the convention site starting the evening of November 23rd at the Auction Director’s discretion.
• When registering donations online, please clearly list any restrictions, such as expiration and blackout dates as well as total retail value.
• Tax information will be mailed to all donors following Chicago TARDIS upon request. 
• Items that meet a minimum retail value under $200 will be included in the silent auction, and those over $200 will be included in the live auction. 
• Some items under $15 retail value may be categorized as “Buy Now” by Chicago TARDIS Auction staff. 
• All displays included with donations will be kept by Chicago TARDIS (and/or the high bidder) unless the donor notifies Chicago TARDIS in writing that they wish to have the display returned. If the donor wishes to have the display returned, they must pick up the display onsite after the close of the silent auction 

Photo by Gordon
Dymowski

DONATION ITEMS - GUIDELINES

To maximize your exposure and bidding, below are a few tips and types of donations that have been popular in the past: 

• Items related to Doctor Who, related media from cast and crew, spin-off media, and British science fiction (Blake’s 7, Red Dwarf). Memorabilia from other science fiction franchises like Star Trek may also be considered.
• Tangible items that a bidder can touch, feel or smell can market themselves and are good ideas to include with gift certificates.
• Handcrafted items: Paintings, sketch art, knit scarves, and other fan-created crafts. 
• Collectible Items such as action figures, books, audio dramas, DVD boxed sets, etc. However, we have found that some practices work best: 
• One-of-a-kind handcrafted items (like paintings, fan art, and knitted items) always bring in major donations; 
• We know that carrying items when traveling can be a challenge; if you are thinking of purchasing items specifically for the auction, it may be easier to simply make a cash donation; 
• Our ability to authenticate specific items is limited, so we ask that you keep this in mind when donating. (We can authenticate signed photographs, though)

 All proceeds benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank whose mission is to lead the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships. Northern Illinois Food Bank is the source of nutritious food, innovative feeding programs, and hope for more than 71,000 people each week. If you have questions regarding the silent or live auction, please contact Gordon Dymowski at auction@chicagotardis.com or use this personal contact form

Take a 10 Minute Twitter Poll

Simply click below and take the poll on Twitter. Thanks!

I am going to be part of an anti-Nazi benefit comic. What story should I write? (Please RT)

— Gordon D (@gordondym) August 16, 2017

Where Stories Come From: "WHEN THE SHADOW SEES THE SUN: Blank Page"

(Revised 03/09/2024)

When Tommy Hancock of Pro Se Productions announced that he was doing a benefit book for creatives and depression, I eagerly jumped on board. Sadly, like me, Tommy lost a good friend to depression, and I've documented my own struggles.

The friend was a gentleman named Logan Masterson, a fellow writer whom I only knew casually via Facebook. Even though it was easy for me to jump on board because of his passing (as well as my friend Vincent's passing), this was an easy, yet difficult, personal essay that I've ever had to write.Yet my essay for When the Shadow Sees the Sun: Creatives Surviving Depression is one of the most revealing pieces I've ever written.

Normally, when I write something long-form, I plot and plan out the scope. (I rarely do so for blog posts, and....well, you can insert your own joke here). This time, I merely did what many writers do: open up LibreOffice (or any appropriate word-processing program) and begin typing away. Something like this should be easy, yet.....it wasn't.

I crack wise in real life and in print. Part of it is the usual I-want-to-keep-people-at-arm's-length dynamic that's kept me safe in certain situations. Here, I needed to treat this like a longer blog post, a way for me to share who I was in a way that was too public, too open...yet somehow could reach someone who was hurting.

It meant opening up parts of my life that, as a writer, I probably should keep hidden. It also meant possibly embarrassing myself, sabotaging my future efforts as effectively as posting inappropriate pictures on Facebook. Yet in all my time in the helping profession, as an advocate for mental health/chemical dependency services, it never dawned on me that I had a story to tell in this regard....

Writing's always been an escape, the same way alcohol, drugs, and other activities help others escape theirs. The only difference is that, if I write well, the only damage I'm doing is to fictional characters. I'll even cop to starting drama in my earlier years as a way of "fuelling" creativity.

It doesn't work.

But I'm especially proud of this piece because it not only allowed me to open up about my own struggles but also help someone across the void. My only real challenge was coming up with a clever title.

Ultimately, the title came to me in a flash and had a multitude of meanings: Blank Page.

So if you're inspired by this post, please purchase When the Shadow Sees the Sun: Creatives Surviving Depression...but more importantly, please share this book with others. Buy a copy for someone who's struggling. 

Because like Legends of New Pulp, it's a benefit book...but more importantly, it could save someone's life.

I know writing part of it saved mine, and that's the best testimonial I can give. 

Your Wednesday Public Domain Inspirational Moment of Zen

Moving Towards The Other Side

To be quite honest, despite the trauma of the past four months....this has been a very positive year for me.

Although recovery has been slow, I have been carving out a small career as a freelance consultant for both agencies and my own one-man shop. I've actually managed to increase my social activities, and my writing career is taking off.....

Keeping perspective is a challenge, though - my cousin is still recovering from the accident involving him and my aunt. (He is enduring heavy injuries; my aunt was killed on impact). Mom is "fostering" another cat (but let's be honest - by "fostering", I mean "planning to keep anyway"). One of my fellow Doctor Who fans from the Meetup passed away after surgery.

Ironically, one of the challenges I am facing is that....well, it seems like my accepting certain issues leads to those being resolved in a totally different manner. Take C2E2....after being declined a press pass, I had accepted that maybe this year, I would take a break. However, I was asked to do not one, but two freestanding events within the convention. Certain work opportunities are presenting themselves without me prompting them.

Moving through transitions - getting to the other side - is scary and thrilling, for precisely the same reason: I have no idea what's coming. Looking at it one way, my only problems are luxury problems....but from another view, they seem insurmountable.

But if I'm totally honest, I'm looking at myself in comparison to the man I was two years ago, and there's been a slight turnaround. I'm more confident that things will work out....maybe not the way I wish, but they will work out.

And that's what keeps me going.

A Quote to Carry With You Tomorrow

Where Stories Come From: LEGENDS OF NEW PULP FICTION

(Revised 03/05/2024)

You've probably all read the news about my appearance in the Legends of New Pulp benefit anthology....and the story behind the story is one that's very complicated. A bit "writey-whitey, typey-wipey", in Doctor Who terms.

(OK, forget I just said all that...but this story has a very interesting pedigree...and this is going to be a really long post)

It all started with news from pal Tommy of Pro Se Productions about his health, and some of the measures he would need to take to move forward. Soon afterward, pal Ron of Airship 27 Productions announced their plans to do a benefit anthology just before a Zone 4 podcast recording.

(Editor's note - Zone 4 is no longer active as a podcast as of 03/05/2024. Just in case you had questions) 

It was easy for me to say "yes", but since I didn't quite have a new idea for a story...I decided to do what any other author would: rewrite something I wrote years earlier. To organize my files, I came across multiple stories that I had written in college on a portable typewriter. (And which resulted in a vast collection of rejection slips).

One of these stories - 'Pather - was the kind of cyberpunk/superhero pastiche that many young wannabe writers like myself wrote. (It's the kind of story where I chose to write something just because rather than figure out a way to integrate it into my storytelling). Although it was an ambitious tale (with actual "real-time" telepathic readings) with a simple premise (a lawman hunts down a criminal in a dense urban landscape), 'Pather was a case of my youthful ambition far exceeding my talent.

The other story - a military/war tale entitled Mars Is Hell - had many red correction marks on it. At some point, I had plans to rewrite and resubmit; however, other plans (including possibly writing a column for the Loyola Phoenix) had gotten in the way. Although much of it I couldn't use, some of the details - focusing on life on an alien planet - could easily be integrated into a page one rewrite of 'Pather.

But what changed the younger version of 'Pather to its newer, more anthology-ready version was a change in tone. Thanks to the Chicago Public Library's Interlibrary loan system, I had binge-watched the final seasons of Justified. Rather than a straightforward science fiction police procedural, I had a more Western-influenced tale. It was no longer just lawman versus genetically enhanced criminal; there were elements of conspiracy and a down-to-earth element...despite it taking place on Mars.

(That was the other thing I took from Mars is Hell: the location. Thanks to research for that story and a Doctor Who/Indiana Jones fanfiction round-robin, I had the details to establish my setting. Most science fiction stories about colonies are about empires - either establishing an outpost on a distant world or the fall of an empire through colonial independence. 'Pather would look at Burroughs Urbplex - the most established colony - as just another city that happened to live in outer space).

So now came the important part - "casting" the main characters in my short story. Given my interest in Native American culture (in light of a then-recent story about a walk-off from an Adam Sandler film), I chose to make my leading man an Apache....and a rerun of Law & Order: SVU gave me the idea "candidate" for what he looked like. (And yes, I did some research into Apache culture...because too often, writers focusing on external cultures tend to write towards the stereotype; I wanted to be sure my efforts gave Natan Bodaway - my lead character - a slightly more detailed cultural life. I'm not sure I quite got it). Our main antagonist was...well, I pulled him straight from Justified. Other characters had their basis in both actors and people I had known...

...and the other major change was in the story's plot. Initially, 'Pather focused on creating genetically enhanced warriors. Since that plot was a bit cliché by current standards, I chose to focus on another aspect. A misheard name led me to the phrase "tear in the sky"....and the reason why someone was given telepathic powers led me to a greater, more malevolent purpose. It also gave me a greater puzzle to work within the context of the greater story.

(No spoilers, though - if you want to learn more, purchase and read it in Legends of New Pulp Fiction)

Despite a then-heavy work and writing schedule, I managed to breeze through the writing/editing/ rewriting of 'Pather, fueled by enthusiasm and copious amounts of coffee. (Only the first few paragraphs were kept; the rest of the story is a page-two rewrite, so to speak). Thankfully, I was able to beat the deadline by a few weeks, mostly by design (I hate riding the edge of deadlines). And when Ron sent me the illustration that would accompany 'Pather, I was blown away...so much that I asked him if my story was that good...

....but see for yourself. All proceeds benefit Tommy in handling medical expenses. (With my mother's recent health issues, I am more than empathetic). You can purchase it via the link above in softcover; it will soon be available on Kindle, and you can also order a PDF version of Legends of New Pulp Fiction via this link.

Consider it my very public thank you - for Tommy Hancock, for his encouragement and support; for Ron Fortier, for suggesting that I consider writing; for Chuck, John, and Brant at Comic Related for their first roll of the dice....and younger me for allowing current me to pay tribute.

Check out this and other written works via my Amazon author page! 

How To Care for Caregivers

Photo courtesy Andy Martello

As many of you readers may know, I've been helping Mom deal with her health issues. Last week, she received a pacemaker, meaning that she's begun the process towards joining the Borg Collective.

I kid, but I know many of my friends and colleagues often say, "Hey, Gordon, let us know how we can help." So consider this some preliminary guidelines for not just my friends...but also anyone who knows someone taking care of an ailing relative.

Let's be clear - sometimes, being an adult caretaker is like spinning plates. Attempting to balance current life issues with sudden health crises can make us very busy...and often can be very draining. We also have people who consider a quick Google search to be the equivalent of a medical degree. Ironically, people who are caring for others realize that time is a very limited commodity. We want to spend our time with loved ones....but also realize we need time for ourselves.

So one thing I would suggest - please respect our limited time. If we bail on an outing, or need to take time away from social networks...it's not that we're flaky. It's because we sometimes have more opportunities for things to "pop up" on our schedule than others. Also, let's be honest - some of us owe many of you phone calls and e-mails. You can wait until we get around to it, but the better suggestion...

...reach out to us. Get us out of the house and involved. Take us out for coffee/meals/fun stuff/whatever.

Caregiving can feel very isolating, with our focus solely on getting through the most immediate crisis. Anything you can do to help us feel connected with others is always welcome; anything that helps us feel supported (other than verbal reassurances) is also welcome.

And in return - yes, we'll engage in appropriate self-care strategies. We'll eat right, get exercise, and more importantly - say "no" when appropriate.

That's right - sometimes, we have to set boundaries with ourselves and our families. It means that sometimes, we'll act in our own interest, believing that "no" is a complete sentence. Will we feel guilty? Sure, but at the very least, we'll be moving forward.

So being a caregiver is a challenge, but with a little help, you can make the process easier. Just please understand if we choose to take a day off to enjoy Law & Order reruns on Ion Television.

Vote Or Die, Chicago Style

Tomorrow, across the city of Chicago, elections will be held for both the Mayoral primary as well as several City Council seats. In that spirit, I would like to offer the following advice for those who may be on the fence about candidates, or even - worse - cynical about the outcome:

Get Up, Bundle Up, Get Out, and Vote

First, if you haven't already engaged in early voting....today's your last and only day to make a difference. In Chicago, politics like much like sports in that it's easy to have an opinion without actually participating yourself. I am fortunate in that a friend of mine - Maureen Sullivan - is running for Alderman of the 11th Ward (part of which includes where I grew up. If you're tired of the same old malarkey in Chicago politics, you owe it to yourself to get out and vote.

Some of you may argue But if I'm force to choose between the lesser of two evils, I'm still choosing evil, let's be blunt: that's a cop-out. We live in a democratic republic, founded on the idea that having a choice is paramount in how a nation is governed. Besides, if you post politically-charged bluster on Facebook, you can actually step away from the keyboard, get out of your apartment, head to your polling place, and vote. It's not a perfect system, but it sure as heck beats the alternative.

...and by "kids" I mean "any adult
of voting age"

Yet there's another, more insidious form of election day cynicism that only happens in our fair city, and it's articulated in the attitude we all know who's gonna win anyway, so I may as well vote for that candidate.

My response: that attitude is cynical....and lazy. Electing a candidate is not like placing a bet on a race horse; there's no win/place/show. However, making a choice against a candidate - by voting for a challenger - is just as (if not more) important. This attitude is the mirror image of the "lesser of two evils" argument...and it's just as wrong.

We've seen quite a bit happen in Chicago over the last few years - a real move towards denying communities their power and their voice. We've seen a city move from enthusiasm over an Olympic bid that would "improve the community"....to apathy and a reluctance to actually get their hands dirty doing it.

Tomorrow may not be a "big" election, but it's important. So important, in fact, that I'm spending the entire day working as an election judge.

Get out. Vote. Then you can complain.

Turning Off The Endless Night

(Yes, that is a Graham Parker reference for the guys at The Comics Treadmill)

For the past week and a half, I've been dealing with laryngitis - working the charity auction at Chicago TARDIS meant using my voice quite a bit, and that - plus a pretty intensive schedule over Thanksgiving weekend - meant that by Sunday, I had no voice.

(By the way, raised over $2700 - only $100 less than last year - and the laryngitis was totally worth it. Most of my time was spent drinking tea, eating chicken soup with a shot of garlic, and not talking).

While I was recuperating, I spent quite a bit of time not only playing catch up on various tasks, but also reflecting on the past year. At this point last year, I had made a very conscious decision - at that point, I was severely burnt out. Massive Doctor Who related activities, the death of a friend, and excessive drama in several of my extracurricular activities led me to a very delicate place emotionally. Not so much hopeless as exhausted, and the resulting lack of energy impacted my ability to move forward in many ways. For me, 2013 was a very dark year for a variety of reasons....and I didn't want to stay in that darkness.

So my decision was simple - take an inventory of my activities, attitudes, and desires. Whatever felt more like a burden than a blessing needed to be let go. Any activities that felt too much, where I needed to let go and turn over to the care of others, I chose to leave and help transition new people in. For some activities where I felt that it "wouldn't go on without me", I adopted the attitude that nobody will pick up the ball unless I am willing to drop it.

In recent weeks, I have found that this past year has seen not only a renewed optimism, but that I've been able to make some really great accomplishments. My attitude has also become increasingly positive, and that even in those "dark nights of the soul", I feel a renewed sense of hope.

It has meant some radical changes - leaving Net Tuesday was a difficult decision, but leaving meant spending more time on that all-important search for work. This year has seen some minimal freelance work, moving me from "barely unemployed" to "underemployed" (and yes, I'm still plugging away). With more "free" time, I chose to pursue a freelance writing career....and that's resulted not only in formal publication, but also....well, I now have a page on Amazon. Go figure.

The greatest gift has been the ability - and opportunity - to begin reconnecting with my colleagues and friends. From a New Year's Eve party to several phone calls and coffee appointments, it's been great to reestablish those basic human connections, especially given a year of relative isolation. (And no, social media doesn't count). With the events in Ferguson, I will make a special effort to reach out to friends in Missouri. (Especially since it seems highly unlikely for a return visit in the near future). But knowing that I'm less alone - even on a superficial, of-course-people-like-me level - has been an immediate boost.

My life is by no means perfect....but for every moment of doubt and despair, there have been greater opportunities to embrace hope, joy, and love. I think it's safe to say (to extend the Graham Parker lyric) that I've finally found a switch to turn off the endless night.

My Post-Thanksgiving Celebration At Chicago TARDIS!

As we charge through NaBloPoMo, just a heads-up; I'll be away from the keyboard for most of this weekend since I'll be working the Charity Auction for Chicago TARDIS. If you're planning on attending, please be sure to say hello - here's my picture (I'm the guy sitting down)

Hope to see you there!

Help the Chicago TARDIS/DOCTOR WHO Charity Auction

One of the many cool things I'm fortunate to be involved with is the charity auction for Chicago TARDIS, a great Doctor Who-themed convention to be held Thanksgiving weekend. I love the fact that I get to engage my fannish love of the show with my urge to do good and help others....but today, I'm asking for your help.

No, this isn't written out of desperation at all - just wanted to provide five positive ways that you can help the auction, even if you're not attending - or a Doctor Who fan:

1. Donate an item for auction - we're always seeking cool Who-themed items for both our silent and live auctions. (All funds benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank). Think of it as a way to clean out your closet or basement, and provide some tangible benefit for the auction. If you're interested, please drop me a line at auction@chicagotardis.com, and I can guide you through the rest of the process. It's easy - trust me!
   
2. Consider being a bidder (if you're attending) - trust me, even if you don't win an item, you're providing us with the goodwill to move forward. (Plus, we do take payments of cash, check, or credit card - more on that in a moment). You can simply head to the Chicago TARDIS Auction Bidder subpage, fill out a quick form, and you'll be in.
3. Make a Small Cash Donation - this year, we're fortunate to have a web-based way for people to donate. If you can't make the convention, but wish to make a donation, simply head to http://bit.ly/ChiTARDISAuction - it's Northern Illinois Food Bank's donation page. Simply donate and amount, and mention "Chicago TARDIS" in the comments section. Even if it's just a few dollars, you'll be helping out in a major way.
4. Forward this post via social media - Yes, you're more than welcome to Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest the Troughton out of this post. (And I'm using "Troughton" in lieu of profanity). The more people know about this, the more we can make an impact. And finally, in an abrupt twist
5. Support Your Local Food Pantry - Even if you can't do anything for Chicago TARDIS, you can make an impact on your own community - many of us are out there on the front lines, trying to scrape by, and working hard simply to stay afloat. Showing people compassion - even in our highly charged, almost volatile cultural climate - can make the greatest of differences. Being willing to find the common humanity in your neighbors and other participants...is the greatest difference you can make.

One of the reasons why I love Doctor Who is that theme of empowerment - the fact that every life matters, and that even the most humble of individuals is capable of performing acts of great courage and benefit. I know that's why I entered the nonprofit field (although I've had to cross over into the corporate world because, well, that's where the jobs tend to be) as well as social enterprise. If the least you can do is help get the word out, great - if you can help with items, that's cool, too.
Either way, Chicago TARDIS is making a positive stand by holding this auction....and really needs - and deserves - your support. Thanks!

Your Mark Millar Inspirational Moment of Zen

So I'm reading promo copies of Stardust (issues 3 & 4) via Image Comics - it's for an upcoming recording of Zone 4....and to be honest, I'm not in the greatest of moods.

In short, feeling the trying-to-get-work blues (despite a really good freelance consulting gig which ended). Also, for various personal reasons, feeling very underappreciated except by a neighbor's dog. (Yes, I know, woe is me...)

And then - I come across this panel in issue 4:

Even despite the slight sarcasm, I have to say....this hits home. And makes me feel less moody - and, in a strange way, more comforted - then I've been feeling.

Your Post-C2E2 Third Coast Comics Moment of Zen

No, this isn't a mistake - this was rescheduled for today. Be sure to head there at 3:00 pm today!

Two Pre-Birthday Gifts You Can Give!

As many of you may be aware, next Thursday is my birthday. Although I don't expect much (and for my Chicago friends - throwing me a surprise birthday bash is not unwanted), I thought I would provide a nice way for several of you to bring me some well-earned birthday cheer....and do some good.

First, I'm volunteering with Chicago Nerd Social Club at Chiditarod, a race to help raise funds and collect food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This Saturday, March 1st, I'll be volunteering from 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm with CNSC at Emporium, located at 1366 N. Milwaukee. You can visit, bring food (we're collecting), buy drinks (the bar will donate the more you drink), and generally just be cool.

(Can't make it? Don't live in Chicago? We have a web site where you can donate as well)

Also, remember that Zeppelin Tales anthology I co-edited for Airship 27 Productions?

It's up for a New Pulp Award....and voting is open to the public.

Seeing as Chicago has a strong history of honest, open elections, I will say this - in order to vote, you need a pulse.

Simply head on over to this link to download a ballot, and e-mail to newpulp2014@yahoo.com by March 12th. 

Do one or the other, and you have my eternal respect and gratitude. Do both, and you'll be my best friend for life.

Your DOCTOR WHO Holiday Moment of Zen

Although organizing the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup group can be a challenge (people always wanting to know why I don't travel to the far suburbs to organize events, or even why I don't provide free parking), sometimes, it pays off.

At last night's event at Third Coast, one of our members actually made full-on, delicious Dalek Cupcakes.

Which is good, because we watched Terminus, and hoo-boy....we needed every pleasurable moment we could get our hands on, because that story....just isn't good.

And now, photos of Dalek cupcakes. Enjoy!

Time Isn't Relative: Help the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction

I know that many of you out there are like me - willing to give a little to help out others. So when the opportunity came to run the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction, I leapt at the opportunity....

...after all, isn't helping people and fighting evil what Doctor Who is all about?

However, I'm now soliciting item donations....and for the readers of this blog, it's a great opportunity to help out. How?

• Know any stores/fan groups willing to donate items for auction? Thinking of donating an item yourself? Fill out our online form and trust me, I'll reach back out to you. (All proceeds benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank, so you can be assured that I won't secretly steal your mint condition VHS of Time and the Rani).
• Have suggestions for people/organizations I can contact, especially in the Midwest? Drop me an e-mail via auction@chicagotardis.com (That way, I don't have to put my personal contact information online, and won't have to deal with people bugging me because I made a cheap joke at the expense of Time and the Rani)
• Forward/Tweet/Facebook the heck out of this post - use your social media mojo. Heck, even promote it on Google Plus. I'm not afraid to "shake what my mother gave me" in terms of bringing positivity to the Chicago area.

Since I'll be reaching out to various and sundry (and may end up contacting some of you anyway), why not help a pal out. Even if you can't be at Chicago TARDIS, you can help make the holidays a little easier for someone....and help someone else get some really cool Doctor Who-ish swag. In the end, isn't that what it's all about?