I’m heading out for the weekend. In case you’ve all noticed the long absences and grumpiness, it’s like this.

In the space of two short weeks, my mom has a birthday (today), my parents move into their new home (tomorrow), my dad retires from preaching (had a party last weekend, but it’s officially next week) and my mom retires from teaching (that’s already happened; school’s over), my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (July 9th) and my dad has his birthday. They’ve spent the last five years fixing up this rundown farmhouse into a renovated dreamhouse, and since it’s been so far from ready to move in I’ve spent almost every weekend up at their place three hours away helping out. I’ve missed some work, and now it’s July 4th and I have to take another two days off, unpaid. I’ve lost about a week’s pay in the last month.

All this talk about supply and demand? Here’s the deal: I need money, and you guys need comics.

Fortunately, Collectorz just released Comic Collectorz 3.0 which has a custom database of comic book listings. I haven’t had much time, but I’ve spent the last two nights hastily updating as many of the comics in my collection to include titles and covers. I’m nowhere near finished, but it’s time for me to head out on another 180 mile drive tonight so I’ll have to make do with what I’ve updated so far.

As soon as I get home from work, I’m going to spend an hour exporting the all-new listings to my Comic Relief site, then uploading them to the server. Then I have to drive for three hours (THIS weekend, traffic may be terrible, so maybe four) and take apart all my parents’ electronics before I can go to bed. So, on your lazy July 4th extended weekend, while you’re all lounging around wondering what to do and I’m helping move my mom’s piano and my dad’s fifty boxes of model cars, please swing on by, check out the listings and place some orders. I will fulfill them next Tuesday when I get back.

What? My whining’s not enough? Ahh, you hypocrites with your “I was raised to believe in Christian charity”, but when I need money, where are you?! Bah! OK, fine, I’ll sweeten the pot.

From now through Wednesday, as a special deal ONLY to the Monitor Duty readers, when you spend $20 or more at my Comic site and check out using the shopping cart, there’s an area for comments. Mention the “MDDeal” and then choose one of the following:

* A free copy of Mysterious Visions Anthology #1, which reprinted my 8 page Metro Med story and is a very nice printing. I’ll sign it if you like.

* A crappy sketch of a character of your choice. Be warned, I’m not an artist. No really, I mean it. You’re getting an absolutely goshawful drawing of no resale value whatsoever. I may do it on notebook paper. It might be stick figures.

* $1 off your order. (I’ll process it upon receipt.)

* The thanks I owe you.

Those are your choices: Free MVA #1, free crappy sketch, $1 off or thanks.

NOTE: This special offer for MD readers is IN ADDITION TO the specials already on the Comic Relief site! I just noticed that those offers from February were still up, so I’m letting them run.

If you don’t want to shop for comic books, but you still want to help out, here are a few other ways:

Should you buy Collectorz’s Comic book software with the database, I think there’s some kind of “who referred you” question when you register it. If you mention my fanzing-AT-fanzing-DOTCOM address, I think I get a quarter or something. I can’t recall what the deal was; it’s been ages since I installed mine. Maybe they aren’t even doing that anymore.

And if you’re shopping at Amazon, use my link to Amazon. In fact, if you’re feeling really generous, right click on that and add it to your bookmarks and just make that your Amazon bookmark instead of just going to Amazon.com. If you shop today, it still counts as the second quarter and then I’ll get that cash in a couple weeks.

I’m not looking for flat-out donations or anything like that. Things aren’t desperate. Save that money for the next time Erik Burnham’s car breaks down. However, if any of these goods are things your looking for right now, keep this in mind.

Thank you, and have a happy Independence Day. (To you Brits, happy July 3rd Dependence Day!)

COMIC RELIEF (Relieve Me Of My Comics)