Sean Cronin was a local weatherman & TV personality (he has since quit to pursue politics) working at the local ABC affiliate on channel 9. A friend of mine who worked at channel 9 brought a copy of this strip to work. Apparently, Mr. Cronin thought it was pretty funny.

Author's Note: I've been meaning to do this strip for over two years, but I could never figure out how to make it work. I got the idea in the car on the way back from Shannon's wedding. It was a lovely wedding; Carey was beautiful and gracious, Shannon was a nervous wreck. You know.

It occurred to me that night--what about MY Shannon and his unrequited love for Melissa? Such heartbreak! What pathos! What an idea! I had no clue how to make it work.

The kicker for me to figure it out is, of course, Alex. She's the extra angle I needed. And it finally occurred to me to include Carey as an onlooker.

So here we are, two years later, and (as I'm writing this) Shannon and Carey are about a week away (estimated) from Alexis being born. I finished this strip last week (7 October) and the last panel so far is blank, awaiting the time and date.

Now.

I hadn't drawn Shannon since the Brandy strips, of course, so it took me a lot of scribbling and erasure to get him right. Melissa came out pretty easily. Then there's Carey.

I had to design Carey in the Jackie's Fridge style, of course, and I've only met with her on a tiny handful of occasions. Four, to be exact, counting the wedding. So, on the trusty ol' Jesus Clipboard, with the trusty ol' Jelly Roll pen, several quick sketches of Carey slowly... painfully... came into existence. I got one I liked and used it. Hopefully it doesn't make her want to kill me.

The idea behind my creating the strip is that, as soon as I get word that Alex has joined the rest of us, I will fill in the time and post the strip on the forum, thus surprising Shannon & Carey. A good surprise, I hope. Right now, it's 9pm on Friday the 13th. As you read this, the deed's been done. Hopefully, it was done well, but I won't know for a little bit yet. We'll see.

Also, as you read this, the original art for this strip is in the possession of the Traska family, since it's their strip after all.