As long as I can remember, I've had a huge fear of getting anything near/on/around my eyes. Perfectly normal fear, I suppose, and not one to worry about...except that it's kept me from getting contacts for my vision.

Been totally terrified of it.

But I decided that it was about dang time for a dang grownup to get over his dang fears...so off I went to the optometrist. And in the process, I found the perfect cure for eye-related fears: A super-tough-but-kind-hearted nurse from Russia.

Man! Now I see how the Russians survive those winters: Sheer, unyeilding stubbornness...tainted with genuine big-heartedness. This woman was awesome. <"Yew vill not be leefing dis hoffice, mah friend, until yew haff put zose contacts hinto yer eyes. An' I vill stand here and help yew until yew do.">

And by God, she did. Took me 2 1/2 hours, but with her help I got 'em in!

And today, when I tried it again at home, it only took me an hour. So...progress! Right?

Amid all my goings-on, I almost forgot to mention: If you're going to New York Comic-Con this year, make sure you swing by booth #1863 and say hi to my friends Brad Guigar and Paul Southworth. Both are cartoonists and gentlemen of the highest order...and will be two of the "guest" cartoonists for Sheldon next week!