tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41842627035161276332024-02-07T01:49:47.130-08:00My Life With Comic Books: A History of a Comic StoreA brief introduction: My name is Paul Howley, owner of the Eisner Award- winning pop culture collector’s store known as “ That’s Entertainment ” in Worcester, Massachusetts. My store has been around for over twenty-nine years. It’s been an interesting combination of events and people that have brought my store to its current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about my store or my life…I just want to tell you my story.paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-87241598150200753912021-04-20T13:05:00.002-07:002021-04-20T13:05:48.672-07:00My Life With Comic Books: A History of A Comic Shop Part # 217<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">A brief introduction:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My name is Paul Howley, owner of the Eisner Award winning
pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s Entertainment” in Worcester,
Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Some people have
called me the “luckiest man in the comic book business.” (I’m not) My stores
have been around for over forty years and it’s been a long and interesting
combination of events and people that have brought these stores to this current
place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about my store or my life. I just
want to tell you my story. In many instances, my wife remembers things a little
differently, but this is the truth as I remember it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Current Cast of Characters:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Howley: age 49<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mal Howley: age 50<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Adam Howley: my son, age 21<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cassy Howley: my daughter, age 20<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #217<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day after Mal’s
father’s funeral, we left early in the morning to begin the very long drive
from Massachusetts back to Florida. We were traveling about seventy miles per
hour along a highway in rural Connecticut when we were passed by five young men
on motorcycles. They must have been going at least ninety miles per hour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal and I looked at each other and thought,
“Crazy kids.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the group of
motorcycle-rider guys picked up speed and pulled further ahead of us, we saw one
of the riders hit something <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the road (like
a small rock) and he lost control of the bike. His helmet flew off his head (we
had noticed as he had passed us that the helmet was unstrapped) as the
motorcycle flipped over and over and his body slammed against the wire guardrail
along the left side of the highway. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled my car
over to the right side breakdown lane, asked Mal to call the police to notify
them about the accident, and to give them the mile-marker number that I saw
posted on the highway. I got out of my vehicle and ran across the mostly
deserted highway to the accident victim. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rider was sitting upright on the road with
his leather jacket shifted over his head and his motorcycle was shattered into
pieces about fifty feet away. I couldn’t tell if he was alive but I noticed a
pool of blood growing on the ground around him. I spoke to him, knowing he most
likely couldn’t respond and told him help was on the way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The victim’s
friends hadn’t noticed that he wasn’t still riding behind them as they sped down
the highway but by the time the police arrived, one of his friends had returned
to the scene. When he saw the large pool of blood on the ground he freaked out.
I tried to get him to be quiet, just in case his friend was still alive. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The police officer
had already called an ambulance but before it arrived, he tried to remove the
motorcyclist’s leather jacket. When he did, the front of the rider’s skull fell
off. Clearly, he wasn’t alive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stayed there with
them until the ambulance arrived. Since there was nothing I could do to help
anyone, I returned to my car and we continued our long ride home. Mal and I
both talked about how sad this was. The young man probably left his home
thinking he was going to have a fun day of riding with his friends. We thought
about his parents and the notification by the police about their son’s death
that they’d soon get. As I write this story, eighteen years later, I still
think about this tragedy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next chapter: The Wedding<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-46623911556823669492021-02-08T12:10:00.001-08:002021-02-08T12:11:37.904-08:00My Life With Comic Books: A History Of A Comic Shop Part # 216<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">A brief introduction:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My name is Paul Howley, owner of the Eisner Award winning
pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s Entertainment” in Worcester,
Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Some people have
called me the “luckiest man in the comic book business.” (I’m not) My stores
have been around for over forty years and it’s been a long and interesting
combination of events and people that have brought these stores to this current
place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about my store or my life. I just
want to tell you my story. In many instances, my wife remembers things a little
differently, but this is the truth as I remember it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Current Cast of Characters:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Howley: age 49<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mal Howley: age 50<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Adam Howley: my son, age 21<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cassy Howley: my daughter, age 20<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Richard A. Daher: Mal’s father: age 78<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #216<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2003, while we
were living in Florida, we learned that Mal’s father had another stroke. Richard
had some health issues over the years starting with his first heart attack at
age 48. He was a heavy smoker most of his life. He had a stroke that changed
his emotional response so that he’d cry when he meant to laugh; but overall, he
was a strong physical man. He lived with his wife , Helen, in central Florida,
about two hours away from us. Mal’s oldest sister, Ginny, and her husband
Denis, lived very close to them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal and I packed
some clothes and drove across the state to the hospital in the town of
Celebration, Florida. Richard had been admitted to the Advent Health Celebration
Hospital and we were very impressed by the doctors, nurses, and staff there. The
hospital (and the entire town!) was planned and designed by The Walt Disney
Company in the 1990s to be close the original Walt Disney idea of Epcot
(Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). This state-of-the-art hospital
facility was beautiful to look at and every staff member we encountered was
friendly, professional and helpful. Most importantly, the doctors and nurses
seemed to actually care about the patients. In fact, it was not uncommon to
find doctors and nurses praying for their patients. I appreciated that since
most of my interactions with doctors tended to be negative experiences.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our visit with
Richard was short. The stroke had severely affected his ability to speak and he
had lost the use of one side of his body. He also had a feeding tube down his
throat that made speaking a struggle. We knew he needed to rest so we headed to
Ginny and Denis’ home. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ginny’s home had a
bedroom for guests and they graciously offered to let us stay with them. We all
had no idea how long Richard was going to be hospitalized so we’d all try to
make the best of the situation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day when
we went to visit him, Mal and I were surprised to run into a man we knew from
Massachusetts named Stacy Nelson. He used to service our swimming pool back in
the 1980s although he had a Master’s degree in nutrition and health. He had
moved to Celebration, Florida when his application for residency in the
community was accepted. Stacy recognized us too and he spent some time
reassuring us that there was no better hospital for Richard to be in. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal’s sister Rose
also lived nearby and we would all gather at the hospital once she, Ginny and
Denis got out of work each day. Over the next few days, Mal’s other siblings
arrived from Massachusetts (Madeline and Richard Jr.), North Carolina (Alan),
and Georgia (Carol and her husband Mike). Over the next few weeks there were
lots of visitors at the hospital. Even though it was sad to see Richard lying
in the bed with a feeding tube down his throat, struggling to communicate, I
think he appreciated everyone being there. The stroke affected the muscles of
his throat and he had great difficulty swallowing. Eventually, at Richard’s
insistence,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the hospital removed the
feeding tube and put a line directly into his stomach for feeding. This allowed
him to respond to family and friends a little bit better. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal and I had to go
back home to Jupiter several times to take care of some things like paying
monthly bills since we didn’t know how long Richard was going to be
hospitalized. As it turned out, after a little over four weeks, Richard A.
Daher died in the hospital on September 13, 2003 with many of his family members
at his side.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard’s funeral
was to be held in Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Hudson, Massachusetts
where he had lived for a long time. The whole family gathered the night before
the service at Mal’s sister Madeline’s home and they all contributed
information and anecdotes about Richard in order to create a eulogy. Mal’s younger
brother Alan volunteered to present it at the church and he did a great job. As
the funeral service neared the end, the priest was waving the containers of
burning incense around Richard’s casket, nearly choking those closest to it
with the smoke and stench. Denis leaned over to Helen and said, “Richard got to
smoke one last time.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the church
service we went to the cemetery and Richard was buried with his wife Madeline.
Later that evening we all gathered at Mal’s sister Madeline’s home again and we
shared thoughts and stories about Richard. Losing such an important family
member made us realize that we should try to make plans for a regular family
get-together while we were all still alive and healthy. Early the next morning
Mal and I said goodbye and began the long, 26 hour drive home to Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-71316756085100728522020-11-05T10:22:00.000-08:002020-11-05T10:22:09.255-08:00My Life With Comic Books: A History Of A Comic Shop: Part # 215<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A brief
introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My name is
Paul Howley, owner of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store
known as “That’s Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store
in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in
the comic book business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over forty
years and it’s been a long and interesting combination of events and people
that have brought these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to
boast or brag about my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In
many instances, my wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the
truth as I remember it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Current
Cast of Characters:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul Howley:
age 49<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mal Howley:
age 50<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Adam Howley:
my son, age 21<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cassy
Howley: my daughter, age 20<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">MY LIFE WITH
COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part #215<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were getting ready for Cassandra’s
wedding to Matt, our stores were busy with an interesting event for our
customers. Someone, (I don’t remember exactly who it was) was a big fan of the
popular newspaper comic strip titled, “Mutts” written and created by Patrick
McDonnell. It was a gentle, humorous comic strip about animals, primarily dogs.
Our major local newspaper, “The Worcester Telegram”, ran this comic strip in
the newspaper as a black and white daily strip and a full-color Sunday strip. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patrick didn’t do store appearances often,
but Ken (the company manager) contacted the local Animal Rescue League and
asked if they’d be interested in being part of an in-store appearance. Once
they agreed, the idea of the appearance was presented to Patrick and he agreed
to come. He would bring copies of the Mutts book collections that had been
released in paperback versions for customers to buy. We also got commitments
from local artists Jennifer Lopez of “BizToons” and Suzanne Thibodeau-Gale of
“Dear Diary: A Middle School Memoir” and “Dear Diary: The High School Years” to
appear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We figured that the “Worcester Telegram”
would be interested in helping us promote the appearance since they ran the
comic strip and they didn’t disappoint us! They did an very nice two-page
article about Patrick’s appearance and it was published a few days before the
event. The mayor of the city of Worcester declared the day of the appearance,
Sunday, July 11, 2004, to be “Mutts Day.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the day arrived, we were happy with the
crowd of people who came to meet Patrick. He sold some books and some of the
attendees even adopted pets! It was another fun day for everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next
Chapter: I go “back in time” to tell a sad story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-30392582439230044622020-09-14T13:44:00.000-07:002020-09-14T13:44:00.446-07:00<p> <img alt="One Pot Cheese Tortellini Recipe with Garlic Sauce" src="https://onepotrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/One-Pot-Cheese-Tortellini-Recipe-with-Garlic-Butter-Sauce-700x1050.jpg.webp" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty nine years and
it’s been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have
brought these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or
brag about my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many
instances, my wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth
as I remember it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Current Cast of
Characters:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 49<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 19<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #214<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We returned to Florida after spending
several months in New Hampshire. Cassandra went back to college and a couple of
weeks later, our houseguests began to visit. Scott and Stephanie Goddard,
friends from New Hampshire, were our first guests, followed by Mal’s brother
Richard and his wife Diane, and their son Keith and his wife Stephanie. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In February, when it came time for the Super
Bowl football game that year, our friends, Allan and Pascale Traylor came to
spend some time with us. Then, two weeks later, April and Rick Stephens
(friends from New Hampshire) came for two weeks. When they left, Jim and
Barbara Foote (more friends from New Hampshire) arrived. In early March, more
friends from New Hampshire, Mike and Liz Verhoeks, came for a week. While they
were staying with us, Mike’s parents, Lloyd and Jeannine, joined us for some
fun. This was followed by a visit with Russ and Jeanne Sample and then, a week
later, we had Mal’s cousin Angelia and Mal’s sister Rose stay with us! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the time we spent with our guests, we
were also working on details for Cassandra’s upcoming wedding. It was a bit
more difficult than it could have been because we were living about 1000 miles
away from where she wanted the ceremony to take place. Thankfully, for me, Cassandra
and Mal had everything under control. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was around this time that our good
friends from New Hampshire, Barbara and Jim Foote, came to stay with us for a
week. While they were here they asked if we would want to buy tickets for a
fundraising dinner to be held at The Winnipesaukee Expo Center on May 22, 2004.
We had planned to leave Florida as soon as Cassandra was done with college that
year to finish the wedding plans up there so we knew we’d be in New Hampshire
at that time. It was $100.00 per couple and it included dinner, dancing, and
there would be the potential to win some cash prizes. Even though the price was
high, several of our friends would be going so we agreed to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cassandra finished up her sophomore year in
college and we packed up the Florida house and got ready for our trip back to
New Hampshire for the summer. One big problem was that now that our dear family
friend Mary had moved back up to New York, we had no one to watch our Florida
home while we were gone. Thankfully, we were able to ask Mary’s former Florida
boyfriend, Alex, if he’d stay in our guest house. He accepted, so we were
headed out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a week after we got to New Hampshire,
we went to the big fundraiser event with my sister Sharon and her husband Greg,
and our friends, Mike and Liz, Eric and Linda, and Barbara and Jim. Each couple
who attended was assigned a number for the cash door prizes. The organizers of
the event put each couple’s number on the wall near the dance floor and at
various times during the evening they’d pull a numbered ball out of a
container. If your number was pulled, you would be eliminated from the
competition for the cash prizes unless you were in the final fourteen couples.
There were several $25.00 prizes, some $50.00 prizes, two $100.00 prizes, a
$250.00 prize, a $500.00 prize, a $1000.00 prize, and a $10,000.00 prize. While
we all enjoyed the good food (excellent tortellini!) Sharon and Greg’s number
was pulled. They were eliminated. Then Eric and Linda and Mike and Liz were
eliminated. After dinner, they hung around for a while and then went home. Barbara
and Jim stayed with us and at one point I noticed that there were only about
thirty numbers left on the wall. I suggested that we go over to the dance floor
to be closer to the action as the night was drawing to a close. Unfortunately,
Barbara and Jim’s number was pulled right before the first cash prize. I was
excited because now I was guaranteed to get some money back! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The $25.00 prizes were won. Then, the $50.00
and $100.00 prizes were won. This is going to be great! We had a fun night with
friends, the food was very good (did I mention the tortellini?), and we were
going to win at least $250.00! The $250.00 prize was won. Then the $500.00
prize was given away. Mal and I and one other couple were left on the dance
floor excitedly waiting to see what happened next. Someone was going to win
$1000.00 and the final winner was going home with the $10,000.00 prize! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before they drew the final winning number, I
quickly spoke with Mal and then we offered to split the total prize money with
the remaining couple. So, instead of one couple getting $1000.00 and the other
couple getting $10,000.00, we would each end up with $5500.00. This seemed like
a perfect plan to me but the other couple wanted to try to get the big
$10,000.00 prize for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The suspense was killing us, but when they
finally pulled the next number, the other couple ended up with the $1000.00 and
we won the grand prize of $10,000.00! With a wedding coming up, we could really
put some of this money to good use. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PS. I had never won anything of significance
before!<o:p></o:p></span></p>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-49536596243174674242019-09-16T13:22:00.000-07:002019-09-16T13:22:23.240-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 213
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 49</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 19</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #213</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Mal and I settled into life in south
Florida, our daughter was very busy and involved in activities during her first
year at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She made a lot of new friends through
sports, academics, and the theatre program. She also went out with some college
guys. It wasn’t long before she began dating Matt. Their relationship became
serious very quickly and Cassandra believed that he might be “The One.” Mal and
I liked him and even though they were both very young, we certainly couldn’t
discourage Cassandra from following her heart, since Mal and I were also very
young when we got married. Matt was taking classes in college to prepare him
for a life as a pastor/evangelist and Cassandra thought she could use her
talents of acting and singing to partner with him. It seemed like a good match.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cassandra had joined the college
cheerleading squad. Although they did do the cheerleading at the basketball
games, the squad was mostly a stunt squad consisting of men and women. There
were lots of very scary-looking tosses of the smaller women, especially
Cassandra. One night, we got an urgent phone call from one of Cassandra’s
teammates explaining that Cassy fell during one stunt and she thought she might
have broken her back! We rushed down to the college and brought her to the hospital
and it was determined that her back was NOT broken. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal and I attended most of
the basketball games, primarily to see Cassandra cheer. We even got to see the
squad perform in Disney World during the college tournament.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our steady stream of houseguests continued
with lots of friends and family visiting us for some memorable, fun times
together including Mal’s sister Madeline, her husband Armand, and their four
children. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near the end of the school year, Cassandra
asked if her fiancé Matt could spend the summer with us in New Hampshire. We
had a small extra bedroom in our little Alton Bay home that would work out
nicely for Matt and we were looking forward to getting to know him better. Our
friend, Russ Sample, gave Matt a job working on his landscaping crew so Matt
could start saving money for wedding expenses.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As summer drew near, we started thinking
about leaving our home in Florida to return to Alton Bay, New Hampshire for the
summer. It’d be great to be with our fun group of friends up there, but it was
unsettling leaving our Florida home empty for three months!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were surprised when we got an email from
Mary, one of Adam’s close friends, asking if she could spend some time in
Florida to get away from city-life and “decompress.” We considered Mary to be
part of our extended family and we knew she was honest and trustworthy. We were
thrilled that she would keep an eye on our Florida property and it could help
her out at the same time so we agreed to have her stay in our guest house for
three or four months. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were in New Hampshire, Mary got
involved in a church in the area. After some training/counseling she used her
theatre background and created a Christmas musical program for the teenagers in
the church to perform. She wrote, directed, choreographed and even made the
costumes herself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal, Cassandra, Matt and I spent lots of
time during the summer doing preliminary planning for the wedding. Mal and
Cassandra did most of the work but Matt and I helped make the hand-crafted
wedding invitations by cutting out some of the more than twenty different parts.
The wedding was going to be in July of 2004 so there was plenty of time to get
things done without any rushing or panicking. We were all hoping for a peaceful
and fun planning process. Cassandra and Matt (mostly Cassandra) knew exactly
how they wanted each detail of the wedding day. Since the wedding was going to
be in New Hampshire and Cassandra and Matt were headed back to Florida to begin
their sophomore year of college, there were several important parts of the
wedding that needed to be settled before we all returned to Florida. They found
a church in Laconia, NH and the reception would be held at a hotel in
Manchester, NH. The only problem was that it was also the same weekend as the
big Nascar race in Loudon, NH and there were very few available hotel rooms in
a fifty-mile radius. The limited number of rooms available were also very
high-priced…some were double the “normal” price just because of the demand.
Many of Cassandra and Matt’s college friends, and almost all of Matt’s family
would be coming from hundreds of miles away and they’d need hotel rooms! We
were able to convince the hotel where the reception was to be held to secure
twenty rooms for us for a slightly less crazy price.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We returned to Florida in mid-August so that
Cassandra could be involved with the “Welcome Week” activities at her college.
We had about a week before houseguests arrived again!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-9PjHFXbp_Qmroe52O68GxDrPsdmWXIbSivr-CiN7OcnVFhpNtLFG6JObFx_KT2Si0VCLmnRvGNtvnRe2zpK5ZXTDu02RLOhV7Lj5htMBBajChkCjJmln6ILOBUebe55AYHkJKw63N_n/s1600/P1180840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-9PjHFXbp_Qmroe52O68GxDrPsdmWXIbSivr-CiN7OcnVFhpNtLFG6JObFx_KT2Si0VCLmnRvGNtvnRe2zpK5ZXTDu02RLOhV7Lj5htMBBajChkCjJmln6ILOBUebe55AYHkJKw63N_n/s320/P1180840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-11732862821185668382019-04-15T09:54:00.000-07:002019-04-15T09:54:01.251-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 212<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeFKmUwDeRFgi4Ttge4MTaAJC728ZbPLGbTeytWiznhPeeTkDCDzvlz-wYvGz7wJMKkd4OSHEdE-oYJL82isvicbJoYkKQPbQ8IxpNXIE1JHGJtHUEUoVFecF6frq9hzhGro3Xs5jkibW/s1600/100_1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeFKmUwDeRFgi4Ttge4MTaAJC728ZbPLGbTeytWiznhPeeTkDCDzvlz-wYvGz7wJMKkd4OSHEdE-oYJL82isvicbJoYkKQPbQ8IxpNXIE1JHGJtHUEUoVFecF6frq9hzhGro3Xs5jkibW/s320/100_1025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsVZKIloIV6ii3hLHNWVpfEEBwDi3ddybmeF2mTrfzG8z3krUG_TnzDxOFol4zoUptPhnt2etWMERadNYht2nBUoMl5c9Mp3lYUiscrDSqaPK5r_5s31FQzyDK-4M2aUUiWFszaFYY8d-/s1600/100_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsVZKIloIV6ii3hLHNWVpfEEBwDi3ddybmeF2mTrfzG8z3krUG_TnzDxOFol4zoUptPhnt2etWMERadNYht2nBUoMl5c9Mp3lYUiscrDSqaPK5r_5s31FQzyDK-4M2aUUiWFszaFYY8d-/s320/100_1022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FPILF904UqcMJ_SllAPRkpkTUfhIqVbGTPYJP9K5rVBZkrGP7_kFi8eZ2CnRPv-3WlDsbx9kOlN1BLGTNX9hfMSVHt-OJkqLjvMy9ZKad0NIltyZGdwIjPEJuNSZI4GmwGqt_Lsf0uLW/s1600/100_1024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FPILF904UqcMJ_SllAPRkpkTUfhIqVbGTPYJP9K5rVBZkrGP7_kFi8eZ2CnRPv-3WlDsbx9kOlN1BLGTNX9hfMSVHt-OJkqLjvMy9ZKad0NIltyZGdwIjPEJuNSZI4GmwGqt_Lsf0uLW/s320/100_1024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63Zmmi9r2gL0DTWzpmYabxr7Z0CBlHM3hk0mXszRVAnflYQd4D582JfRBGtmvpBWttzmvj0Jy_sDTK2zr555SyXpj8V7aC5JDuEBQSliyMKOEEHSzRpWH0FsplB3n_C2tvgoMrIl3s1Ts/s1600/100_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63Zmmi9r2gL0DTWzpmYabxr7Z0CBlHM3hk0mXszRVAnflYQd4D582JfRBGtmvpBWttzmvj0Jy_sDTK2zr555SyXpj8V7aC5JDuEBQSliyMKOEEHSzRpWH0FsplB3n_C2tvgoMrIl3s1Ts/s320/100_1026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Mal Howley: age 49</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Part #212: We
Meet Some Friends!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I had been buying and selling things on eBay
for a few years at this point. I really enjoyed the entire process of finding
an interesting item, listing it on eBay, and finding a buyer who was excited to
own the item. EBay is a lot of work and it’s sometimes difficult to end up with
successful transactions but I do it all anyway. I had listed a fairly rare set
of The Man From Uncle paperback books that came with the original cardboard
slipcase that had illustrations on the sides of the characters from the TV
show. When the auction was over, I noticed that it sold to a collector in
Wellington, Florida. Wellington was about 30 minutes away from our new home in
Jupiter, Florida. Before I could pack up the books, the buyer asked if he could
pick up the books in-person to save the shipping expense. We agreed to meet
halfway in the parking lot of City Furniture in West Palm Beach. Mal and I
figured we could look for the much-needed furniture while we were there.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we got to the parking lot, we met Ric
and Liz. Ric was a serious collector of James Bond and The Man From Uncle
memorabilia. Liz was a talented seamstress. We chatted about our mutual
interests (I’m a big-time collector of The Man From Uncle stuff!) and enjoyed
meeting them both. We exchanged contact information with each other and
suggested that we plan to get together for dinner soon. Within a week or so, we
arranged to meet up at a restaurant to get to know each other a bit more. Over
the next several years, we usually got together with Rick and Liz at least once
a week. It was nice to have friends in the area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I must admit, it’s not like we didn’t have
lots of things going on to keep us busy. We had set up our “guest house” to
include two queen-sized beds in the bedroom, a pull-out sofa bed in the living
room, a dining room, full kitchen, and a full laundry room. We moved into our
Florida home in early August and by September 19<sup>th</sup> we were already
welcoming our first houseguests. Friends from New Hampshire, (The Bassett
family), who’s daughter Jocelyn went to college here, came to south Florida for
Parent’s Weekend at Palm Beach Atlantic University. They stayed for four days.
Three weeks later, my parents drove across the state from Bradenton, Florida
and they stayed with us for a week. The day after they went home, Mal’s sister
Ginny and her husband Denis came for a visit for several days. Two weeks later,
we had a family we barely knew come to our home for a week-long vacation. We
had no more guests until after Christmas that year because we flew back to New
Hampshire to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. Shortly after we
returned home to Florida, Mal’s sister Carol and her husband Mike, and their
three children, came for a week-long visit. On February 13<sup>th</sup>, Barb
and Jim Foote, our friends from New Hampshire, came to spend a week with us.
The day after they left, my sister Sharon and her friend Ellen (and her son
Kory) came for a few days. When they left, our friends Paula and Phil came for
a weekend visit. One of our daughter’s college roommates (Jamie) called and
asked if her mother, Sue, could stay with us for a week while she visited her.
While Sue was here, Jamie and several of her friends stayed in the guest house
too. A week later, two good friends from our time in New Hampshire, Mike and
Liz Verhoeks, came for a week. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The guest house was convenient for our
guests and for us. It allowed our guests to enjoy their own space and we were
told that the time spent there was quite relaxing. We enjoyed showing many of
our guests around the area, especially West Palm Beach’s interesting
shopping/restaurant district called City Place, Jupiter Beach, and many of our
friends also wanted to visit Disney World. Mal and I bought annual passes for
Walt Disney World because, for Florida residents, it was only $235.00 per
person and that included the parking fees. We lived about two hours away from
Orlando and it was an easy trip. We went to Disney World fifteen or twenty
times the first year we lived in Florida!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the middle of the month of April, Rick
and April Stephens, two more friends from New Hampshire came for a visit. We
picked them up at the airport in West Palm Beach and went directly to a local
restaurant called “Schooners” that specialized in local seafood and had a
definite south Florida feel to it. We enjoyed a nice week of relaxing times at
the beach, lounging around our pool, and playing boardgames. At the end of the
week, they borrowed one of our cars and explored the west coast of Florida.
They were considering buying a second home over near Naples, Florida because
they had heard so many nice things about the western side of Florida from
friends. After spending several days on the west coast they decided to look at
homes in the Jupiter, Florida area. Of course, we would have loved it if they
would end up living near us!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two days after Rick and April went back home
to New Hampshire, my parents came for another visit. We took them out on a fun
casino boat out of West Palm Beach and we attended a play that Cassandra was in
at her college. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Cassandra was enjoying a busy first year of
college. She studied hard, enjoyed some club sports, was a competitive
cheerleader, participated in the theatre productions, and she still found the
time to date. In the middle of her freshman year of college, she began dating
Matt, also a freshman from western Florida. Our lives were about to change
again!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> Pictures: Our little guest house!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-56700814717049187732019-01-21T14:50:00.000-08:002019-01-21T14:50:17.872-08:00My Life With Comic Books: A History of a Comic Shop Part # 211<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Mal Howley: age 49</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Part #211:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Is This The New Normal?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were now living in a new place where we
basically didn’t know anyone. We tried to meet people at common areas like
grocery stores, shopping malls, churches, etc. The people we met would ask,
“What brought you to Florida?” We’d reply, “We followed our daughter down here
while she attends college.” Usually, they’d follow-up with something along the
lines of, “Oh, do you have any other children?” I’d quickly glance at Mal to
determine if I should say that “We HAD two children but one died in a car
accident?” The problem with this is that it usually evokes a sadness and pity
from the person you just told and that makes things awkward very quickly. If we
say, “No, we only have one child” it lessens the importance of Adam as an
integral part of our family. If I sensed that we weren’t trying to establish an
ongoing relationship with this person, I’d frequently opt for not mentioning
our son. I always felt terrible doing this but I didn’t want to upset these
people. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here are other things that were now part of
our new “normal”…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not sleeping very well because a hundred
“what ifs” and “why didn’t I’s” go through your head.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Reliving that day continuously.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Having the TV on the minute we wake up to
have noise because sometimes the silence could be overwhelming.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The difficulty of deciding how to honor
Adam’s memory, his birthday, and the anniversary of his death and just try to
survive these days. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are sad too.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seeing so many of Adam’s friends growing,
maturing and entering exciting new phases of their lives like marriage and kids
and wondering what Adam would be like now. Then, realizing that it doesn’t
matter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The new normal is disliking bodies being
referred to as cadavers when you know they were once someone’s loved one.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The new normal is having people afraid to
mention Adam. It’s also making sure that others remember him.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Normal is how almost every happy event in
our lives now has a sadness because Adam isn’t here.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Normal is now wanting to plead with parents
to stop screaming at their kids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Normal is having difficulty listening to
people compare anything in their life to our loss unless they have lost a
child. Even if your child is thousands of miles away from you, it doesn’t
compare.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The new normal is now being able to relate
to other grieving parents, crying and talking together over our lost kids and
our new lives without them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I know that everyone in this life has awful
stuff they’re trying to live with and I do try to be sympathetic because for
them, whatever situation they’re going through may be the worst thing they’ve
ever experienced. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These are some of the things we were dealing
with back in 2002 and many of them still apply today (fifteen years later!). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Eventually, we met some very special people
who became great friends...(more on that soon.)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Next chapter: Florida weather.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-48710668623165607642018-11-16T07:04:00.000-08:002018-11-16T07:04:26.656-08:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 210
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Mal Howley: age 49</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Part #210</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now that we were living in Florida, we were
trying to enjoy the vibrant lifestyle of South Florida. We visited the ocean
beaches that were close by and went to some weekend festivals held around the
eastern part of Florida. We didn’t know very many people here and any “new”
people that we did meet were usually sales clerks at furniture stores while we
attempted to furnish our new home. We missed our close friends from New
Hampshire and Massachusetts and it was difficult to get to know “new” people
since we didn’t work at normal jobs and we were no longer involved in our kid’s
school. While neither of us is shy, it’s hard to connect with strangers without
having something in common. We hadn’t found a church to get involved with yet
although we went to several church services in the area. It was basically just
Mal and I, together all the time. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our home was very conveniently located and I
could walk to a nearby shopping plaza that had a video rental store (remember
those?), a grocery store, a bank, a few restaurants, a horse supply store (our
neighborhood was an equestrian neighborhood) and a mobile Post Office truck. One
evening, Mal mentioned that she was in the mood for an ice cream sundae from
the nearby McDonald’s so I walked over there to buy one for her. When I got
there I noticed there was a large display of classic cars participating in a
Cruise-In Car show. Before I ordered Mal’s ice cream, I walked around looking
at these interesting cars from the 1950s and 1960s. I had a fun time talking
with the car owners and I kind of lost track of the time. I didn’t have a
cellphone back then, ( I didn’t think we needed TWO cellphones since Mal and I
were almost always together ) so Mal had no way to contact me while I was at
the car show. Once I realized I had been gone for far too long, I bought the
ice cream and walked quickly home. I found Mal crying and shaking. She assumed
something awful had happened to me. My absence brought back terrible memories
and thoughts about Adam’s accident for her. It was inconsiderate of me to spend
so much time there when she was expecting me to be back home with her ice cream
within a few minutes. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Next chapter: The new “normal”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-44714227312530270032018-07-09T04:45:00.000-07:002018-07-09T04:45:47.684-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 209
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Mal Howley: age 49</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk518214829"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">MY
LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Part #209</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were all
packed up and ready to begin our trip to move into our newly purchased home in
Florida. My sister Sharon and her youngest son Jake drove our Toyota Camry
packed with stuff and Cassandra, Mal and I rode in Cassy’s Toyota Highlander
packed with more stuff. We left our other car parked at our Alton Bay, New
Hampshire home. We’d somehow get it down to Florida some other time. We didn’t
all own cell-phones at that time and those who did have them were on
restrictive monthly plans with limited minutes available. So, I bought a set of
Motorola Walkie-Talkies so we could communicate between the two cars. We
stopped for the night after we had driven about ten hours.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The next day
we had a total of fourteen hours to go before we reached our new home. I
remember how excited I was as we left Georgia and entered Florida. It was the
beginning of a new chapter of our lives. A new place and new people.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The long ride
went smoothly but it was getting dark by the time we arrived in Jupiter,
Florida. We had no furniture or beds so we went to a local Wal-Mart and bought
some sheets and towels and all just slept on air-mattresses on the floor. Our
furniture and household items were scheduled to be delivered by the moving
company sometime the next day. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The next morning,
we got a call from the moving company. The driver would be arriving at our
property early that day. I explained to him that there was no way he’d be able
to drive into our property in a forty-foot long tractor trailer truck so he’d
need to park on the road and carry everything about fifty feet to our home. He
told me that he only had his fifteen-year-old nephew with him to help carry our
stuff. I expressed my “displeasure” with his unprofessional planning and urged
him to somehow find additional help. My contract with the moving company did
not require ME to help unload the truck. A couple of hours later he arrived
with some “day laborers” that he found from a nearby prison program. These two
guys worked very hard on a very hot and humid summer day in South Florida and I
was pretty upset when I found out that the moving company driver was only
paying them each twenty dollars for their hard work! (When the work was done I
gave them each fifty dollars and apologized to them for the terrible treatment
by the moving company driver.)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Around noon,
our elderly neighbor, Anne, came by to meet us and she generously brought us
pizzas, soda, paper towels, toilet paper and more! What a thoughtful lady!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spent
several days unpacking our stuff but we really didn’t have much furniture….just
a couch, some chairs, a huge desk, and a few other small pieces. My sister was
a big help because she kept urging us to keep working. We did take some short
breaks to go to the ocean beach that was only six miles from our new home.
Swimming in the ocean in South Florida was very different than swimming in the
ocean in New England. Instead of freezing-cold ocean water, the temperature of
the water at this beach was in the mid-80s! On one of these visits to the
Jupiter Beach, my daughter Cassandra and her cousin Jake asked a lifeguard if
there were sharks in the water. He laughed and said, “Of course there’s sharks!
This is where they live!” It didn’t stop us from enjoying the beautiful ocean
though!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After Sharon
and Jake flew back home to New Hampshire, Cassandra started her first year of
college at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She immediately immersed herself
into the many activities available at the school along with her college courses
and theatre productions. She joined the competitive college cheerleading squad
and spent hours each week practicing. On the other hand, other than shopping
for furniture, Mal and I had very little to keep us busy. We really only knew
Anne (the nice lady across the street) but she rarely came out of her home. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spent some
time each week shopping for furniture and other stuff we wanted for this home.
We had three bedrooms, a family room, and a dining room in our “main” house to
furnish and the guest house needed furniture for the bedroom, dining room and
family room. We also needed pool furniture and a table and chairs for the
outside area of the covered patio. But, as those of you who really know me will
understand, I was more concerned with buying televisions for the house and
getting our cable hooked up. Adelphia Cable (the now out-of-business cable company)
couldn’t get our cable turned on for a couple of weeks and we had to have a TV
available for them to establish the connection. We went to Circuit City (the
now out-of-business electronics store) and inquired about the new JVC “flat
screen” television. This TV was one of the first televisions to change from the
rounded tubes to a flat screen. It was still a cathode-ray television and it
was huge. I asked the sales clerk how much the TV weighed and he estimated that
it weighed about 100 pounds. I bought the TV and the clerk said he’d bring it
out to the front of the store while I went to get my Toyota Camry. When I
pulled up to the front of the store it was clear that the box was far too big
to fit in the car so we unpacked the TV and with the clerks help we struggled
to fit it into the back seat. Mal had to get in the back seat and push down on
the seat so the TV would just barely fit. The TV weighed about 200 pounds. We
carefully drove home with the TV in the back but when we arrived home we found
that we couldn’t safely get the huge, heavy television out of the car. It was
too heavy and awkwardly sized for me to carry alone and Mal couldn’t help carry
it. Eventually, we moved a plastic storage bin next to the car and worked at
sliding the TV out of the back seat onto the top of the bin. The problem was,
we didn’t know anyone in the area that could help us move this heavy
television. It sat in the garage, balanced on the top of the bin, for a couple
of weeks until the cable-guy arrived. It’s a strange thing to know no one
around you!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Picture: Sharks near the shore at the Jupiter, Florida beach!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwjwEiP-gAIUchJZwf4BYf2fiEzeik7WBC6rhoiEEGv7d2x7euiUAA22WFAoRPKZLpQZIo7eKebDhk1AMtWZPGHvrMK-8o25WvTdFAYaNAEFe_DEC2EisziX_Q19KfuwsqF3gCK9uISkb/s1600/sharks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="556" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwjwEiP-gAIUchJZwf4BYf2fiEzeik7WBC6rhoiEEGv7d2x7euiUAA22WFAoRPKZLpQZIo7eKebDhk1AMtWZPGHvrMK-8o25WvTdFAYaNAEFe_DEC2EisziX_Q19KfuwsqF3gCK9uISkb/s320/sharks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-5375639678029177272017-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:002017-12-04T09:29:24.795-08:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 208<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 49</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #208</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The summer of 2002 went by far too fast as
we were getting ready for our daughter to head off to college in West Palm
Beach, Florida and we were preparing for our big move from New Hampshire to
Jupiter, Florida. Our purchase of the home went quite smoothly as it was
professionally handled by our real estate agent, Grace Noble. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arranged to have all of the utilities
turned on as soon as the house in Florida was purchased by us because air
conditioning needed to be kept on at all times, especially during the hot and
humid Florida summer, so that no mold would develop inside the house. Along
with hiring a local company to take care of the pool, we continued to contract
with the previous owner’s landscaper to maintain the lawn and yard until we got
down there later in the summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken, the manager of my comic book and
collectible stores, had everything under control so I had no fears about moving
so far away. He could handle any problems that might arise and if he needed my
input on anything, we’d try to resolve things by phone. Still, it was a big
decision to move over 1400 miles away!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of our furniture and boxes of stuff were
packed into a rented storage area waiting to be moved to Florida. I wanted to
hire a professional company to move all of this stuff to our Florida home since
it was such a long distance away from New Hampshire. I had seen advertisements
for a moving company called “Ray’s Moving and Storage” and since they claimed
that they specialized in moves from New Hampshire to Florida, I thought I’d get
an estimate from them for the move. The company sent a representative to my
storage area to work up the price for the move. While they measured the
furniture and boxes, I mentioned that about a hundred of the boxes contained
books and record albums. Lots of heavy items. A few days later they gave me the
price quote and although it seemed like a lot of money, I agreed to hire them
to move my stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a very special group of close friends
in New Hampshire and moving away from them was going to be difficult and
life-changing. These were people we truly loved and who loved us in return! Nearly
every week, we spent three or four days a week with them. We played cards, we
ate lots of food, we vacationed with them, we ate lots of food, we raised our
kids together, and did I mention that we ate a lot of food? We planned to come
back up to stay at our cottage in Alton Bay, New Hampshire each summer so we’d
have at least two or three months each year with our group of friends. Even so,
although we were excited to begin our new life in south Florida, we knew we’d
miss them all. It was an emotional “goodbye.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal and I owned two cars; a Toyota Camry and
a small Eclipse Spyder. Our daughter, Cassandra, owned a large Toyota
Highlander. We needed to get all three cars down to our new home in Florida but
we didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of either Mal or Cassandra driving a
car alone. My sister Sharon, always up for something different, along with her
youngest son Jake, offered to drive one of the cars to Florida. We decided to
leave our Eclipse Spyder parked at our cottage in Alton Bay, NH and we’d try to
figure out how to get it down to Florida sometime in the future. We packed the
other two cars up with valuable collectibles and items that had important
sentimental value and got ready to make the trip to Jupiter, Florida. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we left, we got a phone call from the
owner of Ray’s Moving Company. He explained that once his truck was fully
loaded with our stuff, he found that weight was significantly higher than he
had estimated and we’d now be charged an additional $1900.00. I questioned his
professionalism and honesty because in my opinion, he should have done a better
job in calculating the actual weight of all my boxes. He had full access to
everything I owned in the storage area and it shouldn’t be my fault that he
underestimated the weight. I told him I thought he deliberately underestimated
the weight in order to give me a lower price for the move so I wouldn’t
consider any of the other moving companies. He refused to honor the price quote
he gave me and insinuated that if I wanted my stuff, I’d need to pay him the
full amount he now demanded. I felt I had no choice but to pay him. He
controlled the situation because he had possession of nearly everything I
owned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all of the details seemingly taken care
of, we began the twenty-six hour drive to Florida. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epilog: A year later, while I was working as
a volunteer at our Alton Bay neighborhood snack bar, the owner of Ray’s Moving
Company came to buy a cheeseburger. After I cooked it for him I told him that I
had originally estimated the price of the cheeseburger at $2.50 but for him,
the price is $8.00. He didn’t understand my point but I got a chuckle out of
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Next Chapter: The Florida
Adventure Begins.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ytda6dfwd4WnCq2HiL_FihGPzblRCKnldEPdlQfhaH2R-oifydsuaeeBt8RpscWIyD-Q7B3DQelO6OrxSyKElgmoXPSkdQNY_CqC7NNU15PtzBFI43QFa87DTyswPFoAs8VGzJR8QNqj/s1600/florida+sign+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ytda6dfwd4WnCq2HiL_FihGPzblRCKnldEPdlQfhaH2R-oifydsuaeeBt8RpscWIyD-Q7B3DQelO6OrxSyKElgmoXPSkdQNY_CqC7NNU15PtzBFI43QFa87DTyswPFoAs8VGzJR8QNqj/s320/florida+sign+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-37540531319767529362017-07-12T12:00:00.000-07:002017-07-12T12:12:25.977-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 207<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtPgkbUtGUGoXkuoRtNtkDu0IqR-nVXFtXZ4ihlfZjLpOuAN_qz0_CeVCNl9q4iDsyaReKQOjVEkwZBo2rRGaY1WZxLYLW5H1sxi9_QKw2B2zYrK0IBsfd1xp_MT9b7ElS-xWCF0d1w68/s1600/100_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtPgkbUtGUGoXkuoRtNtkDu0IqR-nVXFtXZ4ihlfZjLpOuAN_qz0_CeVCNl9q4iDsyaReKQOjVEkwZBo2rRGaY1WZxLYLW5H1sxi9_QKw2B2zYrK0IBsfd1xp_MT9b7ElS-xWCF0d1w68/s320/100_0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFbvHpRzOMVZoxMKH29mcJgvNEcyn4MtpirW_nU7SkOCe0Q3K8qqAWYc7N0QYI2aXjy9V7Ge363YmpD5lwUX9ofXiJKr_tesLnUb11Rm_BlFTjSNHgHsFsGdkYGYeO6YmX970mZOBg_JN/s1600/100_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFbvHpRzOMVZoxMKH29mcJgvNEcyn4MtpirW_nU7SkOCe0Q3K8qqAWYc7N0QYI2aXjy9V7Ge363YmpD5lwUX9ofXiJKr_tesLnUb11Rm_BlFTjSNHgHsFsGdkYGYeO6YmX970mZOBg_JN/s320/100_0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #207</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our planned house-hunting time in south
Florida was nearing its end, even though we had visited dozens of interesting
homes, we hadn’t found a house that we were ready to buy. Mal and I carefully
reviewed the listing information sheets of many of the homes one night and
then, with no decision made, we went to sleep. The next morning, Mal told me
that she had prayed for some insight and when she woke up she felt that she
wanted to go back to see the property with the guest-house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace Noble, our real estate agent,
dutifully took us back there. As we remembered, the house wasn’t very dynamic
looking but it could meet our needs. It had a nice lot of nearly two and a half
acres including lots of tropical south Florida vegetation that created a nice
wall of privacy between the house and the neighboring homes. The completely
screened-in swimming pool was a nice full-sized pool (not the usual small
suburban Florida pools we had seen in our house hunting). The house was one of
only five homes on a private unpaved road and it was conveniently located
within walking distance to a shopping plaza that contained a grocery store,
restaurants, a bank, a video rental store, a cell-phone store, and a
full-service mobile Post Office van. At first, we were a bit concerned that
this shopping plaza might be too close by but there were enough trees to
completely block the plaza from view. The guest house was the biggest
“negative” thing about the property for us. We certainly didn’t need this extra
space and the property “asking price” reflected the inclusion of this
guest-house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owners had listed the home for sale at
$529,000.00. The property had only been on the market for eleven days and the
real estate market in south Florida was pretty strong at that time. We decided
to make an offer of $464,300.00 for the property and we were actually shocked
when the owners accepted our offer. The only contingency would be a
satisfactory home inspection. Normally, I don’t hire home inspectors because
I’m pretty good at spotting potential problems but since Florida is quite
different from any other area I’ve lived in before, especially because of the
potential for termite infestations, I hired a professional. The report came
back indicating that things looked pretty good. We were feeling confident that
this was the right property for us to buy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a couple of days left before had to
drive back to New Hampshire and we had a lot of little details that needed to
be completed to ensure that the home purchase would smoothly move forward. One
issue was obtaining home-owner’s insurance. I assumed this would just take a
quick phone call to a local insurance agent and I was surprised when I was
informed that no insurance company would be interested in selling me insurance
on the property because it was considered to be in a “hurricane-zone.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The property was only six miles from the
ocean, and even though there hadn’t been a hurricane in Jupiter, Florida in
over forty years, the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in south Florida was
still too much for insurance companies to overlook the possibility of another
hurricane hitting Florida. We called our real estate agent and told her that we
obviously couldn’t buy the property if we couldn’t get insurance on it. She
called the sellers and they called their insurance company and convinced them
to offer us an insurance policy on the home. Instead of the $500 per year that
we were accustomed to pay for an annual insurance premium, this policy was over
$6000 per year with an $8000 wind-related deductible! We wanted the property
enough so we purchased the insurance and set everything in motion to buy the
place. Grace would get everything taken care of and we could complete the
transaction through the mail since we needed to get back to New Hampshire now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next chapter: The summer seems short as we
prepare to leave our amazing friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-29538598926054548312017-04-17T19:08:00.000-07:002017-04-17T19:08:02.756-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 206
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCwnzJ1Yvl3Q7RfaEtV6382fWA6Ra1-gMYgsU07N-_O0Wp_4j0VKuLRQl-tR7mEm64I1IPT66CVSohhN3sXaFTaAl7hQ2A7Obe_6viQShyvSP3qFvEpTpfPzPftvVv7YL0lvdb-bNyJnR/s1600/adam+vanishing+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCwnzJ1Yvl3Q7RfaEtV6382fWA6Ra1-gMYgsU07N-_O0Wp_4j0VKuLRQl-tR7mEm64I1IPT66CVSohhN3sXaFTaAl7hQ2A7Obe_6viQShyvSP3qFvEpTpfPzPftvVv7YL0lvdb-bNyJnR/s1600/adam+vanishing+2.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Current Cast of
Characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #206</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Cassandra’s high school graduation and
graduation party were done, Mal and I packed our suitcases and planned to drive
to Florida to try to find a place to live that was about a half-hour away from
Cassy’s chosen college, Palm Beach Atlantic University. I had hoped that a big
move away from everything that reminded us of Adam might help ease the sadness
of losing him. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had done some Internet searching for
suitable homes and I was surprised at how reasonable parts of south Florida
seemed to be. We didn’t want to spend a lot on a Florida home because we still
owned our home in Alton Bay and we wanted to be able to keep it so we could
spend summers in New Hampshire with our friends and relatives.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After contacting our excellent Realtor, Judy
McShane, she connected us with Grace Noble, a real estate agent located in
Jupiter, Florida. We explained to Grace that we had no idea what kind of house
we were looking for nor how much we wanted to spend. Driving us around Jupiter looking
at houses ranging from $150,000 to over $600,000 must have annoyed her;
however, she never seemed bothered by it. She noted our likes and dislikes and
took those ideas into consideration in suggesting other homes. We looked at
about ten homes each day, making notes on the listing forms so we’d remember
certain details about each house. When we got back to our hotel each night, we
would review them. Many could be eliminated right away so Mal would draw a big
“X” through the page. Although we saw some houses we really liked, we were
surprised at how small most of the house lots were. Being accustomed to having
a decent-sized lot (usually 2-3 acres) so it seemed odd to have a huge home
with a neighboring home literally twenty feet away. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We visited a housing development called
“Abacoa” in Jupiter that was modeled after the Walt Disney “Celebration”
development near Orlando, Florida. The homes were really beautiful. All of the
yards were meticulously maintained and had beautiful flowering bushes and
plantings. One nice feature was that the garage for each home was not visible
from the streets. The garages were all accessed from a small private road that
ran behind each home. Homes in Abacoa usually sold the day they went on the
market. When the developer “released” new lots, a hundred people would show up
and the “lucky” twenty buyers would snatch the lots up on the first day they
became available. The developer would tell you exactly what style home you
could build on that lot and there weren’t many options because the neighborhood
was really pre-planned. Our biggest concern was that this particular
neighborhood charged nearly $300 per month for Homeowners Association fees!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked at an equestrian neighborhood
called “Jupiter Farms.” Apparently, when this neighborhood was initially
started, there was a demand for larger lots so that horse owners could keep
their animals on their own property. The house lots were a minimum of one and a
quarter acres and they were heavily treed and had lots of tropical vegetation.
The home we looked at was interesting. It was a “Florida-style” home that had
four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, dining room, family room, and a
small kitchen. The home was on a small private road and it had nearly three
acres of land. There was a nice-sized, fully enclosed swimming pool. (These
fully screened coverings keep bugs and debris out of your pool area and they’re
quite common in Florida) This property also had a completely separate
guest-house that had a huge bedroom, a full bathroom, a living room, a laundry
room, and a full kitchen. Mal and I liked the area but we had no interest in
having a guest-house so Mal drew a large “X” on the listing paper. We still had
several more days to look at other properties and Grace was still willing to
show us more.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Next chapter: We’re running
out of time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-50755078808911052192017-01-26T07:47:00.001-08:002017-01-26T07:47:59.469-08:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 205<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #205</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we’re at my daughter’s high school
graduation (and I’m about to be the invited speaker) and she’s just finished
introducing me as “…and my father, Doctor Paul Howley.” There are hundreds of
guests in the audience who’ve never met me before and know nothing about me so
I’ve got let them know I’m NOT a doctor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the message:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrE1UgZg0GE" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Interesting footnote:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next year, Cassy and I attended the
local public high school graduation and the speaker explained to the students
that although high school graduation is an important event in their lives, it
will seem less and less important as time goes by. The students will move on to
college, full-time employment, military service, or they could begin to raise a
family. In fact, he continued, although you might remember some of the speech
you heard, you probably won’t even remember who spoke at your graduation. As we
were walking out of the auditorium, Cassy said, “He’s right! I don’t even
remember who spoke at MY graduation last year.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>REALLY Cassy?!!</span></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-88011995738065013972016-10-02T03:29:00.000-07:002016-10-02T03:29:39.092-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part 204<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #204</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In June of 2002 we had a lot going on. We
sold our home in Gilford, New Hampshire, rebuilt our cottage in Alton Bay, and
we decided to move to Florida while Cassy attended Palm Beach Atlantic
University. But at this moment, the most important thing was Cassy’s high
school graduation from Laconia Christian School.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we could only invite a few people
to the actual graduation ceremony, we invited many relatives and friends to
Cassy’s graduation party. Uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors, classmates, and
friends were coming... some from very far away! We were especially honored that
our good friends, Gary and Peggy Walker, were coming all the way from
Nashville, Tennessee to the party!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hadn’t seen Gary and Peggy for a few
years but they’d always been special friends. We’ve known them since we worked
for them in the mid-1970s and we kept in touch as often as possible.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal and my sister Sharon had all of the
details for the party finished and my brother-in-law Greg took care of setting
up the chairs and other stuff outside for the party. It all seemed to go
together very smoothly.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The actual graduation ceremony was quite nice.
The principal of the school, David Borchers, cared very much about the students
and he made the graduation very relevant and personal. This particular senior
class meant a lot to me too, and not just because my daughter was in it. These
past four years saw significant changes in these young people as they matured
and I was fortunate to be around to see it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the ceremony the school choir sang
some songs and Cassy was featured. Seamus O’Brien, Dwayne Currier, and Cassy
each gave a “message” to their classmates while I sat in the audience nervously
awaiting my turn to speak.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a video clip of Cassy and the choir
singing one of the songs:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vttRf2NtXw4" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br /><br />
Shortly after this song, Cassy gave me a nice introduction. But she threw me for a loop as she introduced me as Dr. Paul Howley! Most of the people in the audience didn't know me at all so I would need to let them know I was not a doctor.<br />
Next chapter: My message to the graduates.paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-16988610081378574492016-06-29T07:00:00.000-07:002016-06-29T07:00:15.817-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 203<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpwy9wKTAshzwqQjCZ2hl9AXLQBC02WhGofm6NxZR0A5XxSg6QtZXvVz3funvfi5GifQAR50mTlkQAl5vU2FiIWBIniaqfMgWwagKFt-uOZWOvUMqmKFvAfzrYYRK0bCSt7q-gJP8EXgP/s1600/dog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpwy9wKTAshzwqQjCZ2hl9AXLQBC02WhGofm6NxZR0A5XxSg6QtZXvVz3funvfi5GifQAR50mTlkQAl5vU2FiIWBIniaqfMgWwagKFt-uOZWOvUMqmKFvAfzrYYRK0bCSt7q-gJP8EXgP/s1600/dog2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #203</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had decided to try to sell our Gilford,
NH home. Cassandra was headed off to Florida in the fall to attend Palm Beach
Atlantic University and we thought it might be good to try a new start;
somewhere we weren’t reminded of Adam every waking moment. After interviewing
five different real estate companies, only Judy McShane seemed interested in
our offer of a one-day exclusive listing if they had a customer who might be
interested in buying it. Judy called one of her clients and after a very brief
conversation, she wrote up the one-day listing agreement.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About fifteen minutes later, a woman drove a
Mercedes down our driveway, left her kids in the idling car, and after a brief
introduction, began to look around the inside of our house. She spent about ten
minutes looking around the house but she never looked at the finished basement
and she didn’t look around the backyard. As she was headed out to leave, she
asked Mal if we could be out of the house within fourteen days. We didn’t take
her very seriously but we said, “Sure.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a half-hour, she called us with an
offer. I declined her offer. She asked what the lowest price I’d sell the house
for would be and when I told her, she agreed to buy the house. The next morning
she arranged to come to our house to measure for drapes. While she was there I
asked if she’d be interested in buying my beautiful carved-oak pool table and
without a moment’s thought, she agreed to pay the full price I was asking.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was all great news for us since we
really wanted to sell the house quickly, but there was a significant problem.
We had no place to move into! We had torn out the bathrooms in our Alton Bay
cottage and we still couldn’t find a carpenter to rebuild them. My sister
Sharon and her husband Greg offered to let us stay with them at their home in
Laconia, New Hampshire until we could find someone to rebuild our cottage
bathrooms. Meanwhile, we had to empty all of our stuff out of our home and we
brought it into a nearby storage facility. Greg let me use his truck and
trailer and he helped me move the heavy furniture while several other friends
helped pack and move boxes. It was a lot of work but we were able to empty the
house in time for the sale date. The entire process of selling the house took
about two weeks!</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we had been living with Greg and
Sharon for a couple of weeks, Greg suggested that HE could possibly rebuild our
bathrooms at the cottage. (Hmmm….did he really just want to get rid of us?)
Greg is a man of many talents so this seemed like a good idea. He worked hard
and within a short time, the cottage bathroom was finished. But, in an effort
to “help” him, I ended up getting hurt. I was kneeling on the floor moving some
building supplies when I heard a loud pop. It was my kneecap! The pain was
intense and within a minute my kneecap swelled up. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As each day passed, the pain seemed to get
worse. I could barely walk and I had too much going on to be incapacitated. We
had Cassandra’s high school graduation coming up soon and we were planning to
have a pretty big graduation party for her. The party was going to be held at
my sister’s home because they had plenty of room inside the house and they also
had a beautiful backyard. I called my doctor on a Saturday and he allowed me to
come to his home to get a shot of cortisone in my knee to relieve the pain.
Thankfully it worked great!</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While my wife and sister planned the graduation
party, I began to work on preparing the message that I was going to give at the
school’s graduation ceremony. I’m not a good writer so I was struggling with
this. I knew a few of the ideas I wanted to express but putting it all together
wasn’t easy for me. For several days, I’d make little notes as ideas came to
me, hoping that when it was all combined, it might make some sense. With only a
few days before the graduation, it was time for me to get serious about putting
the message together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laid out all of
the scraps of paper on my sister’s coffee table and just as I got ready to
start writing the first draft, my wife asked me to go to the grocery store to
get some of the food for the party. While I was gone, my sister’s dog, Bailey,
ate all of the notes!</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Next chapter: Cassandra’s
graduation from high school.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-88263350218179393132016-04-17T12:08:00.000-07:002016-04-17T12:08:47.016-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 202
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4SOv4Mg7X_UEiqiEGUsXEG8tRcPs15C2xZAiS_3lNNU0YZLBdeXg7U0lAxrBzz2Arh_5bnG0ooiy5-lsz9pBhb1B-tmsFbVrdVLiAuFwDRjFpQJLsawoCqKheIOQmt1YyC7V12cAPZfL/s1600/cinderellaglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4SOv4Mg7X_UEiqiEGUsXEG8tRcPs15C2xZAiS_3lNNU0YZLBdeXg7U0lAxrBzz2Arh_5bnG0ooiy5-lsz9pBhb1B-tmsFbVrdVLiAuFwDRjFpQJLsawoCqKheIOQmt1YyC7V12cAPZfL/s320/cinderellaglass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #202</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter’s eighteenth birthday was coming
up soon and she wanted to do something special for this “milestone.” We rented
a banquet hall in a nearby town and hired our nephew, Jesse, to be the DJ for
the event. Cassy invited over fifty of her friends from her high school and
almost all of them confirmed that they’d attend. While it was mostly going to
be a “dance party” we’d also provide food and beverages.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the planning for her birthday bash was
ongoing, we were still working on the high school musical play that was coming
up near the end of the month. “The Truth About Cinderella” was a comedy musical
that would feature over thirty-five students as actors and about a dozen
students and adults involved in the backstage areas including set design,
costuming, choreography, makeup, and vocal preparation. The play would be
directed by Brenda Carney, a talented volunteer and the school’s drama teacher.
I wasn’t very involved this year but I did coordinate the ticket sales at our
new performance location at the Newfound Regional High School in Bristol, New
Hampshire.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The play was a success and it was nice to
see several “new” actors take on larger roles than they had previously done in
the past four years of the drama program.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Cassy’s last year of high school was
nearing the end, our lives were pretty busy. We had lots of details to take
care of to wrap up the school year. In late May, the senior students put on the
“Senior Banquet.” At this banquet, parents and friends are invited to a dinner
prepared and served by the junior class and entertainment including students
from both the senior and junior classes. My parents drove up from Massachusetts
to be there. I remember it being a nice evening but at the end of the night,
representatives of the senior class asked me to be the speaker at their high
school graduation ceremony! They must have been crazy! I accepted the
invitation but then I was told that I’d have to wear a suit and tie! YIKES! For
the past four years, I’ve pretty much worn a white t-shirt and blue jeans every
single day. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cassy had been accepted into the Musical
Theatre program of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida
for the fall. Mal and I discussed the idea of moving to Florida to be near her,
just in case she needed us (or, more likely, we needed her!) We had recently
bought a cottage in Alton Bay, New Hampshire that we were renovating and we had
a large home in Gilford, New Hampshire. We’d need to try to sell the Gilford
home before we could move. We had torn out the main bathroom in the Alton Bay
cottage and we were having trouble finding a good carpenter to rebuild it.
Everyone we knew in the building business was very busy on other projects and
couldn’t help us.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We called several real estate companies and
set up appointments with them so they could pitch us their marketing ideas on
our home in Gilford. After each representative gave us their plan for selling
and marketing our house, we’d say, “Well, while we’re considering all of the
potential realtors, if you know of anyone seriously looking for a house like
ours, we’d be happy to give you a one-day exclusive right-to-sell agreement.”
One realtor snorted, “Oh, we don’t do business like that!” Another pretended
that they’d consider it but it was pretty clear that they were not really
interested. The fifth realtor, Judy McShane, said, “Hmmm. Let me think for a
minute. I might have someone who’d be interested.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Next Chapter: The craziness
begins!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-23604455478073771292016-04-05T11:59:00.000-07:002016-04-05T11:59:27.841-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 201
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzRapiZTIQXzf_NSbaOgHBF0B-TyMdcb0FVmK9fplrJSmvwqKZcvFb35x_JQsusqahdJf2q2uQ9YC1OqhEyFQan2HH77TrEasdMeWlpkeRqWjBgou665tgulQG-qujlfi0ZvEWB2dk-fZ/s1600/weasels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzRapiZTIQXzf_NSbaOgHBF0B-TyMdcb0FVmK9fplrJSmvwqKZcvFb35x_JQsusqahdJf2q2uQ9YC1OqhEyFQan2HH77TrEasdMeWlpkeRqWjBgou665tgulQG-qujlfi0ZvEWB2dk-fZ/s320/weasels.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #201</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Adam’s accident, we began to receive
bills from the local community hospital where the paramedics had brought Adam’s
body. Adam had died in the car, but at that time, paramedics could not
“pronounce” someone dead without a doctor being involved. So, about a month
after his death, the hospital began sending the bill to our address. It was
upsetting to see Adam’s name on the envelope. I called the hospital billing
department and I explained that Adam was an adult so I shouldn’t be responsible
for the bills. He had insurance that covered eighty percent and the final
balance would not be paid. They apologized and told me to ignore the bill. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next month we received another bill for
the same amount. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt…perhaps this
bill was already processed before I had communicated with the billing
department. I called them and they told me (again) to disregard the bill and
they’d be sure to stop sending the bill to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next month, when I received the bill
again, I went down to the hospital to speak to someone “in charge” to settle
this. The people I spoke with seemed interested in getting this straightened
out and by the time I left the hospital I felt confident that this was settled.
But, of course, it wasn’t.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next month, not only did I get another
bill for the exact same amount, I now got a “demand notice” with the threat of
the bill being turned over to a collection agency if I didn’t pay the bill
right away. I made another trip to the billing department at the hospital and
explained that if they didn’t stop billing me, I’d start looking into their
outrageously expensive charges, including the charges for two sets of chest
x-rays and the charges for TWO doctors to examine the x-rays of my already-dead
son. I also made sure to remind them that I have no legal obligation to pay
this bill. The head of the department assured me that he understood and he’d
personally see to it that I would no longer be billed for these expenses.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly, I did not get another bill the
next month! But I did get a phone call from a lawyer claiming to be
representing the hospital and the collection agency. She was demanding that I
take care of this bill right away. I explained to her that I have NO legal
responsibility for this bill because Adam was an independent adult. She
threatened to put a lien against Adam’s estate. I sarcastically laughed at her
and told her that Adam’s “estate” consisted of some used music CDs and about
six pairs of baggy-jeans. I told her, “If the hospital is that desperate for
money, you’re welcome to come over and pick out some things you’re interested
in.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instantly, her attitude changed. She said,
“Would you like me to represent you in a lawsuit against the truck driver and
the trucking company who collided with your son’s car?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I replied, “Why would I sue them? My son
collided with them. It wasn’t the truck driver’s fault!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lawyer explained, “Very few trucking
companies properly maintain their vehicles so they COULD be found liable.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re a disgusting weasel,” I exclaimed.
“How do you live with yourself?!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the last I heard from the hospital
and their legal representatives. Now, I’m sure that there are a few nice,
competent people working at that hospital. I personally know two doctors and a
few nurses who work there and they seem professional and courteous. But for me,
after three terrible experiences with incompetent and rude employees, I’m DONE
with this local hospital.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Adam had no legal will prepared, I
needed to hire a lawyer to “settle” his estate. Adam had no money and he didn’t
own any property but it still took nearly a year to go through probate court. It
was a relief to have that unpleasant part of this over.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-11854230478319040302016-01-24T06:40:00.000-08:002016-01-24T06:40:57.286-08:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 200<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtR5XMCTfqpqXGD6pJpw9i2yerj9l9JGZmLL5YtNcXjuNKYnfPa6xcqMl7bn7Dp4klVgsmsk-tnZqTq5iItMq_gCIR353ljyfV88PaKvb4i65NNcIKMeovZEk_tGSlIZrU4wyKQ-lgBDW/s1600/littlenemo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtR5XMCTfqpqXGD6pJpw9i2yerj9l9JGZmLL5YtNcXjuNKYnfPa6xcqMl7bn7Dp4klVgsmsk-tnZqTq5iItMq_gCIR353ljyfV88PaKvb4i65NNcIKMeovZEk_tGSlIZrU4wyKQ-lgBDW/s320/littlenemo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part #200</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never had a dream that I believed to be
any more than just a dream. I know that many cultures and religions believe
that some dreams are inspired by God and I’m certainly not disputing that
belief. It’s just that, for me, most of my dreams seem to be the result of
thoughts that have been going through my head before I fall asleep. But I did
have one time that my dream seemed very real.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel the need to explain something first.
When Adam went off to college, there were times when I would barely think about
him for several days. I knew he had started his new life away from us and our
lives were quite busy. But after his accident, I really haven’t had ten minutes
in a row without thinking of Adam. It’s not an obsession. I’m not haunted by
the memories of him. It’s just that so many things remind me of Adam.
Television, clothing, music, foods…the list seems endless. Anyway, I had this
dream about a year after Adam’s accident. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very cold winter day and Adam and I
were on a long wooden toboggan getting ready to slide down a huge hilly road (
to be specific, it was Kent Drive in Hudson, Massachusetts). Even though, in
reality, the steep part of Kent Drive is only about a mile long, in my dream it
seemed as if it was several miles long. I was holding on tightly to the edges
of the toboggan and Adam was holding onto my shoulders. For some reason, Adam
wasn’t the twenty-one year old Adam... he was twelve years-old and I could hear
his typical stuffed-up nose while he said to me, “Dad, don’t worry, there’s no
reason to cry…I’m fine.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the rest of our ride together
laughing and enjoying the thrill of the steep hill. When I woke up, I knew it
was just a dream. Even though it wasn’t real, I felt relieved….Adam was safe
and happy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-68531902273203909262015-09-24T05:15:00.000-07:002015-09-24T05:15:12.774-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 199<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXkd0ozgqnfBVMZ-qDDsrEahujGVPYFSaakMbgtWF0otyu5MteJBOVCjJJ8m8HRJsdf78T26CMHUXQYRfFvq7kOficS2z58ukfpvmcKKD0lihHe2oASN2khHGpRb9FsmtIG9qzbza57a7/s1600/spidermanticket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXkd0ozgqnfBVMZ-qDDsrEahujGVPYFSaakMbgtWF0otyu5MteJBOVCjJJ8m8HRJsdf78T26CMHUXQYRfFvq7kOficS2z58ukfpvmcKKD0lihHe2oASN2khHGpRb9FsmtIG9qzbza57a7/s320/spidermanticket.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ken: the manager of our comic
book/collectibles stores</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dave: comic book expert</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Hank: former owner of the
comic book store we bought in Fitchburg, and current Worcester radio celebrity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP--Part 199</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“The Spider-Man movie ticket
giveaway”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Ken and Dave had everything
under control and all of the details were worked out well in advance, I was
excited enough about the ticket giveaway event to drive the 110 mile trip from
Laconia, New Hampshire to the store in Worcester, Massachusetts. I wanted to be
a part of this fun event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken had designed an attractive commemorative
movie ticket that featured a vintage illustration of Spider-Man on it. It
looked great! That’s Entertainment in Worcester would be giving these tickets
away to the first 500 people who came to the store on April 27<sup>th</sup>,
2002. While there was no purchase necessary to get one of these tickets, we
obviously hoped that while people were at the store, they’d look around and
find something to buy. This event was going to cost us thousands of dollars so
it would be nice if our sales increased a bit to help cover the expense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hank Stoltz, a Worcester radio celebrity and
former owner of the Fitchburg comic book store we purchased thirteen years
previous, arranged to do a live broadcast on the radio during the ticket
giveaway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I arrived at the store I was pleased
that the store and the staff were ready to welcome the customers who would come
to get their free ticket. A long line of people were already waiting outside.
Hank was waiting for me at the table that Ken had set up at the far end of the
store. We reminisced about Hank’s former store and we talked about current
comic books while we waited for the doors to open at 10:00A.M. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the doors finally opened, the customers
came to our table and we were surprised at the excitement of everyone who got a
ticket. While most people understood that we could only give one ticket per
person, there were a few people who tried to get us to give them five or six
tickets for family members who weren’t there with them. We explained that we
could only give them away to people who actually came, in person, to get the
tickets. The line remained steady for a few hours until the final ticket was
given away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the busy day, sales were very
good and everyone seemed to have a fun time. I knew that the following Saturday
(the day of the movie screening) would be even more fun! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove back to New Hampshire that night,
thinking about the long drive back the following week. You see, I don’t know if
I’ve mentioned it before, but I REALLY don’t like driving long distances. I
drive a lot. It usually seems like a waste of time being stuck in a car for
hours. Driving isn’t fun, but for me, it’s better than flying. It’s probably
because I think I’m more “in control” if I drive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, on Saturday morning on May 4<sup>th</sup>,
I left New Hampshire again to drive the two hours to get to the theater in time
for our special showing of the Spider-Man movie. After the theater filled with
people I took the opportunity to welcome everyone and explained that after the
movie, we hoped everyone would go back to our Worcester store to have fun
during “Free Comic Book Day.” Apparently, I didn’t need to worry. When the
movie ended I quickly drove to the store and was pleasantly surprised that the
store was already packed with customers. We gave away thousands of comic books
to eager customers and it seemed like everyone was enjoying the festivities. (Just
a side-note: We give away thousands of comic books but we PAY for these!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next chapter: I dreamed a dream of days gone
by.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-35935723179375309482015-08-21T12:00:00.001-07:002015-08-21T12:00:16.787-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 198<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnWHUJfThqvIUoZSDaNQeyPa84HUIJgp6e1V-O91gO0QtwGKVa_WNdGQZslPeTriqiJJ6mDiD1oGx9_hQKMUW5N2Pbs6fGJlgI3so-lquCGbz1aHD9nV_T3vlc5IMbLItC2HGTdUlkFty/s1600/freecomicbookday2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnWHUJfThqvIUoZSDaNQeyPa84HUIJgp6e1V-O91gO0QtwGKVa_WNdGQZslPeTriqiJJ6mDiD1oGx9_hQKMUW5N2Pbs6fGJlgI3so-lquCGbz1aHD9nV_T3vlc5IMbLItC2HGTdUlkFty/s320/freecomicbookday2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ken: the manager of our comic
book/collectibles stores</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dave: comic book expert</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP--Part 198</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The first Free Comic
Book Day event!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our collectible stores were gearing up for
two huge events; the special screening and ticket-giveaway for the Spider-Man
movie and the very first “Free Comic Book Day.” Free Comic Book Day was
conceived by Joe Fields, a comic book retailer, who thought that it would be
beneficial for the comic book industry to band-together to promote the comic
book art-form. Since this was going to be the first Free Comic Book Day, we had
no idea what to expect but we did the best we could to purchase the kind of comic
books that might encourage people to try reading some! (Contrary to what many
people think, although we give the comic books away for free, we PAY for them
all.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave and Ken wrote the following text to
inform the media about the event:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
Entertainment celebrates an American art-form with free comics for everyone!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday, May 4<sup>th</sup>, That’s
Entertainment at 244 Park Avenue in Worcester will be giving everyone who
visits a free comic book---with no purchase necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?
That’s Entertainment is one of over 2000 comic book shops worldwide participating
in “Free Comic Book Day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The goal of Free Comic Book Day,” said
David Hartwell, assistant manager of That’s Entertainment, “is to introduce, or
re-introduce everyone to the joys of comic books.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Comic
books are an original American art-form created in the depression era as
affordable entertainment for the masses,” Hartwell continued. “In the decades
since, comics’ unique blend of words and pictures has grown, matured, and
changed with the times, while providing us with some of the most enduring
characters and stories in our popular culture. Also, comics have been an
idea-factory for Hollywood---Superman, Batman, The Crow, Spawn, X-Men, Ghost
World, and now Spider-Man.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the course of Free Comic Book Day, participating stores will give away close to
two million comic books, ranging in subject matter from high-flying super-hero
adventures to intense slice-of-life to crime noir to kid-friendly humor and more.
Visitors to That’s Entertainment on May 4<sup>th</sup> will find a variety of
free comics to choose from, including ‘Star Wars Tales,’ ‘Justice League
Adventures,’ ‘Tomb Raider,’ ‘Ultimate Spider-Man,’ and many more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hartwell went on to explain why May 4<sup>th</sup>
was chosen as the date for Free Comic Book Day. “With the Spider-Man movie
opening the day before, public awareness of comic books will be high and we
think Free Comic Book Day will build on that momentum.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re
also bringing in some comic artists to the store just to make the day even more
special,” said Hartwell. “Paul Ryan, who has drawn the Spider-Man comic strip,
as well as dozens of other major characters, will be here to chat with fans and
sign copies of his work. We’ll also host creators Andy Fish, Tony Antetomaso,
and Scott Hamilton, who will all give demonstrations on how comic books are
created. It’s called ‘The Pro-Am Comic Jam.’ The creators will be on hand from
3PM until 6PM.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Along
with our fellow comic book retailers around the world, we at That’s
Entertainment want to spread the word that comics are alive and well in 2002,”
Hartwell continued. “That’s Entertainment is one of the largest comic stores in
the country, with about 10,000 square feet of display area and we’ve won the
industry’s national retailing award. We invite everyone to come to That’s
Entertainment on May 4<sup>th</sup> and see for themselves how vital, relevant,
powerful, and just-plain cool comic books are. Best of all, they’re FREE---and
we hope to give away a lot of comics!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Next Chapter: The Spider-Man
movie ticket giveaway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-79077608236075750952015-08-04T07:06:00.001-07:002015-08-04T07:06:55.304-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part 197<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqChK5xgDPuinx6q96YpBb7BnTw3x7gvOwyNCBfHO3oXMFdRb__1LDADRBrj_kl9IEXpy-lL9FSth40L-8qJZS66W_g1GR6mXS8Pc1WCV16cfNc0sFexpUzBhaVSMG9zNNEopFmWQTSVib/s1600/spidermanposter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqChK5xgDPuinx6q96YpBb7BnTw3x7gvOwyNCBfHO3oXMFdRb__1LDADRBrj_kl9IEXpy-lL9FSth40L-8qJZS66W_g1GR6mXS8Pc1WCV16cfNc0sFexpUzBhaVSMG9zNNEopFmWQTSVib/s1600/spidermanposter.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ken: the manager of our comic
book/collectibles stores</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dave: comic book expert</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP-Part 197</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In early 2002 we began to think about how we
could make a fun event around the upcoming movie release of Spider-Man starring
Tobey Maguire. The movie seemed like it could be a fun feature-film so we
contacted the theater management of the Worcester Showcase Cinema to see if we
could have the Massachusetts premiere in Worcester. We had such a memorable
event way back in 1989 when we bought out an entire show for Tim Burton’s
Batman movie and gave away 500 tickets to customers of our store and we hoped
to do it again with Spider-Man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several frustrating phone calls with
the new management, it became clear they didn’t understand how big an event the
premiere could be for the city of Worcester. It would be easier for them to let
the premiere happen in Boston.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sony Pictures, the studio producing the
movie, was clever to release the film on the same day as “Free Comic Book Day,”
a brand-new national event celebrating comic books at comic book stores. We
knew this could be a huge opportunity to educate consumers about how fun comic
books can be. We negotiated with the Showcase Cinema people until we had the
best deal we thought we could get. We ended up buying 500 tickets for a 9AM
special screening at nearly 2 ½ times what we paid for the Batman tickets! This
would NOT be a cheap event but we were excited to offer a “free” fun day as a
“thank you” for our loyal customers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken and David worked out most of the details
because I was still living in New Hampshire. They lined up several comic book
artists who agreed to create free sketches for customers who attended the Free
Comic Book Day store activities after the movie. Ken contacted our friend Hank,
a local radio celebrity, and arranged for two of the local Worcester radio
stations to get involved in promoting the event. In late April of 2002, Ken
sent out the information to the local press and media outlets. This is what he
wrote:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“That’s Entertainment of 244
Park Avenue in Worcester will give away 500 tickets to a special free screening
of the new Spider-Man movie. Paul Howley, owner of That’s Entertainment sees
the event as a way to show his appreciation to the people who have been his
customers over the past twenty years. A long-time Spider-Man fan, Howley looks
forward to seeing the movie with a whole theater full of Spider-Man
enthusiasts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The giveaway will begin at 10:00am on
Saturday, April 27, at 244 Park Avenue, and tickets will be given away on a
‘first-come, first-served’ basis, one per person aged 13 or older. No purchase
is necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A week later, on Saturday, May 4<sup>th</sup>,
the lucky ticket-holders will gather for the screening at 9:00am at Showcase
Cinemas Worcester North, 135 Brooks St.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Spider-Man was created in 1962, and has
always been one of the most recognizable pop-culture icons,” Howley explains.
“Right from the start, he was unique among comic heroes, kind of a nerd or
book-worm, who suddenly is given amazing powers. Now, on top of high school
problems, girlfriend problems, job problems, etc, he has to take on these
fantastic criminals! In his first story he learns that ‘with great power comes
great responsibility.’ That theme resonates as strongly today as forty years
ago.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Radio Stations WTAG and WSRS will be
promoting the event beginning April 22. They will conduct on-air contests for
some of the tickets and they’ll feature interviews with Howley and comic book
creators.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In 1989 Howley offered free tickets to a
special screening of the Batman movie and was very happy with the response. “I
think Spider-Man will be even more fun than the Batman movie.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The day of the screening, May 4<sup>th</sup>,
is also National Free Comic Book Day. That’s Entertainment will participate by
offering special edition comic books free to customers, no purchase necessary,
from 10:00am-8:00pm. One of these comics is The Ultimate Spider-Man #1.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Next chapter: I can’t resist
driving the 110 miles to be a part of the ticket giveaway!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-18004864644114858772015-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:002015-07-25T08:29:24.833-07:00My Life With Comic Books Part 196<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR3ZJz-vlFyTlm6UWmWif4LtOYqz3CF1Fb8Wd7M_853tFHYdVj_hetrC1CgvDFAkO3QpzF5WOVB1eewZpqr2zzWm__OvtY2TXFw927dXT45zLsb0-clFOCS3PQE81XgU1pMomsA9DCmTK/s1600/skull+cigarette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR3ZJz-vlFyTlm6UWmWif4LtOYqz3CF1Fb8Wd7M_853tFHYdVj_hetrC1CgvDFAkO3QpzF5WOVB1eewZpqr2zzWm__OvtY2TXFw927dXT45zLsb0-clFOCS3PQE81XgU1pMomsA9DCmTK/s1600/skull+cigarette.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP-Part 196</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Senior Class Cruise:
The Final Chapter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students in my daughter’s high school
senior class were really exceptional young adults. They were polite,
considerate, and they cared about each other. For the most part, they obeyed
the rules that the school had set. However, one young man struggled with an
addiction to cigarettes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any student was observed smoking, they’d
be suspended from the school. If my memory serves me correctly, they might be
suspended even if they smoked cigarettes at home. The rule was in place so that
the students would carefully consider the consequences before they began
smoking. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop Cassandra’s classmate from smoking. We
spoke with Jake (not his real name) and warned him that if he was caught
breaking the rules about smoking while he was on the senior class trip, he
could be suspended from school and that could affect his ability to attend the
upcoming graduation with his class.<span id="goog_1661667579"></span><span id="goog_1661667580"></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jake expressed his serious concern that he
couldn’t possibly avoid smoking for the five days of the trip. We told him we
understood but we’d still need to enforce the rule. One of the chaperones who
had smoked cigarettes for decades before he quit, spent some deep one-on-one
time with Jake to help him get through this difficult situation. Jake protested
at first but he realized that he needed help. The chaperone taught Jake about the
concept of “consequential thinking.” Decisions shouldn’t be made without
thinking of the consequences of our actions. For some, this may seem obvious,
but for others (especially young people) this isn’t quite as natural. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the course of the trip, there were some
tearful moments and some loving encouragement for Jake. As far as we know, he
was able to resist the temptation to smoke for the duration of the class trip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several weeks later, the senior class
participated in “Senior Day” at the school. This is a short program for the
seniors to impart some of their wisdom to the younger students. The
soon-to-be-graduating seniors sat at long tables at the front of the gymnasium
and answered questions from the audience of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.
When asked, “What was your favorite school event?”, several students declared
that the cruise was at the top of their list. They learned about working
towards a long-term goal (raising and saving the money needed to pay for the
trip) and they learned to enjoy new experiences. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were asked all sorts of other questions
and all of the seniors seemed to have some good thoughts to share. But for me,
the coolest wisdom given to the audience was when Jake shared the importance of
consequential thinking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-7761603481297085862015-03-27T09:10:00.000-07:002015-03-27T09:10:18.537-07:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 195<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP-Part 195</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After our entire group of Cassandra’s senior
classmates and the chaperones boarded the cruise ship, we all met upstairs on
the Lido deck to eat at the lunch buffet. We organized a meeting in my
stateroom for everyone to get together to go over the “rules” of conduct.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we originally booked the cabins for our
daughter’s senior class trip cruise, we knew that we needed to keep the
expenses low so that all of the students could afford to go on the trip. We
booked the most inexpensive cabins available; inside cabins on a lower deck of
the ship. Mal and I paid for our own accommodations and we booked a very large
suite so that we’d have space to have meetings of the whole class in our room. Once
everyone was clear on what was expected of the students as far as behavior
goes, we all headed out in small groups to explore the huge ship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we knew the students quite well and we
knew they were mostly decent, responsible young-adults, we didn’t want the close
proximity of alcohol and casino gambling to be too tempting for any of them.
One of the rules for the trip was that students must stay together in groups of
at least three students. That way, they’d be accountable for each other’s
behavior. When our group was on-shore there would always be an adult chaperone
with the students, but while on-board the ship, the students could be together
without supervision. This worked out nicely. We did, however, need to speak
with two of the boys regarding their interest in flirting with some of the
non-classmates on the ship. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a group, with input from the students and
the chaperones, we agreed that all of the students needed to be in their
staterooms by 1:00AM. Activities on cruiseships usually end around 3:00AM but
we wanted everyone to be rested and eager to start each day. We had quite a lot
planned for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the first night, we all met up in the
assigned dining room for dinner where we had several large tables reserved for
our group. We decided that we would mix things up by switching the seating each
night so that the students would get to spend time with other classmates over
the course of the cruise. There are hundreds of choices of food items on
cruises and we encouraged the group to experiment by trying foods they’ve never
had the chance to try before. Lobster, escargot, filet mignon, duck, vichyssoise,
gazpacho, New Zealand spring lamb, sushi, and more. There were also lots of
great-tasting deserts including cherries jubilee, baked Alaska, crème brulee,
and the most popular desert of all…warm chocolate melting cake! (Did I mention
the warm chocolate melting cake?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinner on a cruise ship can be a long
process. If you eat in the main dining room your dinner will consist of several
courses. There are appetizers and salads. There are a variety of soups. Then
comes the entrée, followed by desserts. (Did I tell you about the warm
chocolate melting cake?) It’s not unusual for the entire dinner to take an hour
and a half. Of course, there are several other quick service locations around
the ship to get other foods if you don’t want to spend a long time in the
dining room. But, the purpose of this senior class trip was for the students to
get to spend time together as a group, so we opted for dinner in the dining
room each night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner our exploration of the huge
ship continued and at 9:00 PM until one of the chaperones announced that he was
going to bed. He was accustomed to getting up very early each morning but he
usually went to sleep early at night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Um…no. Sorry, I know we’re all tired from a
very long day of travel but we all need to do our job as chaperones to ensure
the safety of the students. As exhausted as he was, he persevered and was a
great help for the rest of the trip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, since this isn’t meant to just be a
detailed description of the entire cruise, suffice it to say, we had lots of
fun together. Over the next few days we rented motor scooters, toured Key West,
snorkeled in Cozumel, Mexico, did some shopping, saw some shows, and relaxed at
a warm beach. Through it all, the students were respectful, grateful, and
well-behaved. Well…almost all of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Next chapter: Consequential
thinking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeZGIhazKhWZvmBB6MrNLKDnnqbpdwv1KVJn9lT2MhcpgA7ldrp-OUeRhgI0oqVNx0eSn9HE1ZiQK1n4oiP8IMn_fSnPGFY28PA7V3scirbAoLfNJwemketXgjOUQEdJUO6G_HciuzPK/s1600/101-0118_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeZGIhazKhWZvmBB6MrNLKDnnqbpdwv1KVJn9lT2MhcpgA7ldrp-OUeRhgI0oqVNx0eSn9HE1ZiQK1n4oiP8IMn_fSnPGFY28PA7V3scirbAoLfNJwemketXgjOUQEdJUO6G_HciuzPK/s1600/101-0118_IMG.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K6OMqawhP10HqtdNA0NeRF-Elkqz6KzEzCD-DMkY03gki1nWiujWoERPJ_TTdA7koMvGM5YQ9dJl7aGjFPk2Vif3M_W6ifc-0QDrlcKI-PQmKYXLhcY5miVXLDTpoLFIxSYA5LwuQcnD/s1600/101-0111_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K6OMqawhP10HqtdNA0NeRF-Elkqz6KzEzCD-DMkY03gki1nWiujWoERPJ_TTdA7koMvGM5YQ9dJl7aGjFPk2Vif3M_W6ifc-0QDrlcKI-PQmKYXLhcY5miVXLDTpoLFIxSYA5LwuQcnD/s1600/101-0111_IMG.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFThBxv-WNPrEywvEKiA9dua3_FIMoK8vhLn8H270RAB7PPj_mdJfYVSjqZKEECyoHfaNgZBWOwAnVwa-1FNE3H3B7F2TbSZCltKjG94qtSSVWBEpeWfDfxN-ut95mBxbFnkSWEVcP0HyR/s1600/101-0154_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFThBxv-WNPrEywvEKiA9dua3_FIMoK8vhLn8H270RAB7PPj_mdJfYVSjqZKEECyoHfaNgZBWOwAnVwa-1FNE3H3B7F2TbSZCltKjG94qtSSVWBEpeWfDfxN-ut95mBxbFnkSWEVcP0HyR/s1600/101-0154_IMG.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pP4k9xj0ohpbkbkpd3Yxha5nAigzWXZW4FW_H1dSXnMFr9gbWH1ZuLR34rKyFnlQe-JmmvS5A-stxEqhOHXh6RqO0Bj_jhhMMYyQIjOfZ2ixKBEz5H4ZmPRG5om2ScF02fhH45YGPG_Y/s1600/102-0231_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pP4k9xj0ohpbkbkpd3Yxha5nAigzWXZW4FW_H1dSXnMFr9gbWH1ZuLR34rKyFnlQe-JmmvS5A-stxEqhOHXh6RqO0Bj_jhhMMYyQIjOfZ2ixKBEz5H4ZmPRG5om2ScF02fhH45YGPG_Y/s1600/102-0231_IMG.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-47155381319016121132014-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:002014-11-07T09:59:12.979-08:00My Life With Comic Books Part # 194<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A brief introduction:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The current cast of
characters:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mal Howley: age 48</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP-Part 194</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In March of 2002, Brenda, the drama teacher
at my daughter’s school, chose to put on a musical play titled, “The Truth
About Cinderella.” I had never heard of this play but it didn’t matter because
I wasn’t very involved in this production. I wasn’t needed to help with the
preparation in any way so my only involvement was to oversee the ticket sales. I
was no longer on the school board but I was very busy organizing my daughter’s
senior class trip. The class had chosen to go on a cruise and for the past
three and a half years they were saving their money so that they could afford
to go on this trip. We had been raising money by running the concession stand
at nearly every home sporting event and we had a very successful “Family Fun
Night” at the school that had a meatball sandwich dinner, a live auction of
donated items, and live musical entertainment provided by members of the senior
class. The event raised several thousand dollars and the money was evenly split
up among the senior students to make the cruise more affordable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With twenty-three students going on this
trip, I knew we’d need lots of adult chaperones to be sure everyone obeyed the
“rules” (although this group of students was abnormally well-behaved!) and to
keep everyone safe. We put out the word that we were looking for responsible
adults to come on this cruise and, even though they had to pay for their cruise
and all of their own travel arrangements, we had more than enough adults step
forward to come along! We ended up with eleven chaperones; enough for at least
one adult per cabin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the departure date for the class trip
neared, I needed to make arrangements for all of the different modes of travel
including: cars, bus, planes, and the cruise ship. We also investigated the
kinds of activities and tours we wanted the students to have a chance to
experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning of our trip, we left the
Laconia, New Hampshire area very early in the morning. We arrived at the US
Airways terminal at the Manchester airport nearly two hours before the
scheduled time of our flight’s departure. When we got to the check-in desk we
were surprised that it was not open for business yet. By the time the US Air
employee arrived, we only had about an hour to get everyone checked in. The
rude and snippy employee seemed to be deliberately moving very slowly and the
check-in process was taking far too long. When I went to the head of the line
and asked him what was taking so long, he informed me (rudely) that there was a
good chance he wouldn’t have time to get everyone checked in! After I (probably
rudely) suggested that since we were all here very early, and US Airways should
have known how many people were booked on this flight, perhaps the company
should have had adequate help here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
surprisingly, this seemed to make him move even slower. By the time the last
student was checked in, many of us had to actually run to our gate to board the
plane before it took off! We felt bad for the dozens of passengers that were
still left in the line with the slow, rude employee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, several of the students had
never flown on an airplane before. Some had not ever travelled outside of New
England. It was an uneventful flight and the time passed quickly because most
of the students were excited about the trip and they were enjoying the
opportunity to spend this time together. Once we landed, we were struck by the
warmth of the Florida sun. It was a nice change from the normal chill of New
Hampshire. We all boarded the Carnival Cruiseline bus and headed for the Port
of Miami where the Carnival Fascination ship was docked. Most of the people in
our group had not been on a cruise before so they were surprised at how huge
the ship really was. The Fascination was built in 1994 so it was still in
almost brand-new condition. The ship was 855 feet long and 10 stories tall and
it would have 2600 passengers and nearly 1000 crew members.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a while for the large group of us to
get checked-in at the Carnival Cruiselines and when we were done, we all headed
to the Lido Deck buffet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Next chapter: Bon Voyage!</span><em></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkP6APoJR3nEH1OvZqNZkF6lww86sfE7jIn47P0c7MuQW2bHNcs9owYxcfCMvMdR-hKu_9FjfLbWLEaNfL_WTDe7Ry4TYNLhuICznjD1p0TEG2tymAsHGDKQ44M4sns4JBkqwHTZL6nb8/s1600/cruise1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkP6APoJR3nEH1OvZqNZkF6lww86sfE7jIn47P0c7MuQW2bHNcs9owYxcfCMvMdR-hKu_9FjfLbWLEaNfL_WTDe7Ry4TYNLhuICznjD1p0TEG2tymAsHGDKQ44M4sns4JBkqwHTZL6nb8/s1600/cruise1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90hCRWqNA7Cypo0djShqBwDLxwZMWJUAP1ahs_xBWN0u4J0Vh_a7mMJnGVweN4lJbM0KJj6r5Vab1dsyEANcEf0JHwuSYOt16uUv219_9zLdkbKtKXMB5ke_4NkPw3bcUQq4nJfMYdejj/s1600/fascinationship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90hCRWqNA7Cypo0djShqBwDLxwZMWJUAP1ahs_xBWN0u4J0Vh_a7mMJnGVweN4lJbM0KJj6r5Vab1dsyEANcEf0JHwuSYOt16uUv219_9zLdkbKtKXMB5ke_4NkPw3bcUQq4nJfMYdejj/s1600/fascinationship.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4184262703516127633.post-57781731597734967152013-12-26T11:51:00.000-08:002013-12-26T11:52:56.809-08:00My Life With Comic Books: Part # 193<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3k7I_05zEsw-CMoxEEvjFez1xpYKrE82eZQASLmm68K6ZB1D1CoVVThrkKOax1wJV3l88KNu42uDUZCY6_NTloLASyqjFB1TuJFCthrpRtvUCKvTSSgW4uEMRadwT0raaT1wv3LvwKVd/s1600/luminaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3k7I_05zEsw-CMoxEEvjFez1xpYKrE82eZQASLmm68K6ZB1D1CoVVThrkKOax1wJV3l88KNu42uDUZCY6_NTloLASyqjFB1TuJFCthrpRtvUCKvTSSgW4uEMRadwT0raaT1wv3LvwKVd/s320/luminaries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A brief introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My name is Paul Howley, owner
of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector’s store known as “That’s
Entertainment” in Worcester, Massachusetts and a second store in Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Some people have called me the “luckiest man in the comic book
business.” (I’m not) My stores have been around for over thirty years and it’s
been a long and interesting combination of events and people that have brought
these stores to this current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about
my store or my life. I just want to tell you my story. In many instances, my
wife remembers things a little differently, but this is the truth as I remember
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The current cast of
characters:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Paul Howley: age 47<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mal Howley: age 48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Adam Howley: my son, age 21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cassy Howley: my daughter,
age 17</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE
HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP-Part 193</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We survived our first Christmas without Adam
but the dreaded anniversary of his accident was fast approaching. It seemed
like every month there was some day or event that brought so much pain to us;
Adam’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and even Halloween,
brought back memories that made us miss Adam even more.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal suggested that instead of thinking of
January 9<sup>th</sup> as the date of Adam’s death, we could consider it the
beginning of the next chapter in his life in the presence of his Creator. We
invited the friends we had in New Hampshire who knew Adam the most and they all
confirmed that they’d come to “celebrate” this day as Adam’s first heavenly
birthday.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mal made food for the gathering (for some
reason, almost every gathering in New Hampshire included food) and we had
angel-food cake for dessert. She set up candles in paper bags and lined them up
along the walkway. With all of the snow in the yard, it looked really nice.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our friends arrived, we chit-chatted
for awhile and then we sat around the family room to watch a video collection I
had put together of bits and scenes from Adam’s life. It included video footage
of Adam from early childhood to a few days before his accident. We read a few
of Adam’s poems and read some verses in the Bible that referred to the
after-life that we expect. It was an emotional evening for us but it helped us
through a very tough “anniversary.”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had a gathering of friends on January
9<sup>th</sup> with us almost every year since then (I’m writing this about
twelve years later) but instead of inviting close friends and relatives who
actually knew Adam, we’ve tried to invite new friends who had never personally
known him. This gives us the opportunity to give our new friends a glimpse of
what Adam was all about. It’s not an easy night for us, but it helps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Next Chapter: Cassandra’s
senior class trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
paul howleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196536135483166677noreply@blogger.com0