The Lord is my German Shepherd

This week’s new Dustinland comic is a totally true story about my recent trip to America’s oldest pet cemetery, and there’s not much more I can say to explain it than what’s in the strip — although I do have lots more photos I may soon share.

You may be wondering why I went there on a bright summer’s day. Well, I googled “secret Westchester” (I live in Westchester) and I found a list, and amid all the quiet little gardens and weird ancient businesses was this cemetery, and the photos were so interesting and unexpected, I had to grab my camera and give it a little visit. It really was nice to see. And I was maybe the only visitor. There were some grounds people there, and possibly one couple I saw in the distance. But that’s it. Many of these graves were over 50 years old. Can’t imagine someone is going to visit grandpa’s dog, right? That’s a whole weird thing in itself that I didn’t even mention in the comic. Maybe I’ll have to do a sequel.

I’m New Here

Here’s a collection of comics I drew for Westchester’s River Journal, starting with the latest strip appearing in this month’s issue! This strip is called I’m New Here and it’s written from the perspective of someone new to living in the burbs. However, during COVID it sort of thematically morphed into more of a pandemic comic, albeit with a bit of a suburban feel. Normally I post a brand new strip on Monday or Tuesday night but sometimes quarantine living just sucks the inspiration out of you. Glad I’ve got a bunch of other strips lying around!

I’m New Here 8-12

This week I was a bit too busy for a new strip, but here is a collection of my last five strips for The River Journal. They’re meant for an audience of a few towns in Westchester, NY, but really I think anyone who moved from the city to the burbs will appreciate it. Hence the title.

These will also be a nice break from all the misery in the news today since these are all pre pandemic and non political. So take a break and enjoy.

I’m New Here 7

This week’s comic is my latest work for The River Journal. If you live in a suburban town, I think you’ll be able to relate — even if it’s not Westchester. That being said, there is a certain New Yorkness to this comic. This town always has had a bit of “if you’re not here, you’re nowhere” to it. One thing I don’t understand is why so many people can’t except other people’s choices. It always has to come back to a subconscious defense of their own lifestyle. Why? Why can’t we like different things?

I’m New Here 5 & 6

Here are my two latest comic strips for The River Journal, an excellent local newspaper up here in Westchester. Homeowners, you will appreciate the newest one.

I’m New Here

I’ve been drawing a new comic called I’m New Here for a local newspaper called The River Journal. They cover a bunch of towns up here in Westchester, including mine. I say up here because Westchester is north of NYC, and that’s sort of where everything is judged by around these parts. Anyway, you can see the first four strips here. There’s certainly a theme, as you can tell from the title. I grew up in an apartment in Queens so being new to the suburbs provides endless ideas. If you’re lucky enough to live in a Hudson river town, you get the printed version delivered right into your mailbox. Good times.

The Towering Infuriation

This week’s Dustinland comic is about how the MTA and Metro-North just erected a 150-foot cell tower right next to a low income housing community’s playground in Tarrytown, Westchester, where I live. I don’t live in that community, but I do live close by, and I thought I was pissed when I could see this huge ugly pole out my window. I can’t imagine what these people feel like, having this thing looming over them.

I’m actually part of a grassroots movement that’s trying to get this thing moved, but I think it will be a tough fight. I’ve been looking into it and it sounds like these things go up all over the country and no one wants them but basically it’s like, tough shit,  losers. But it’s at least worth fighting it. I know these things have to go somewhere, but why there? I mean, the town isn’t even getting paid! It’s on MTA property, tax free, so they can rent it out to phone service providers and keep all the profit, and we get nothing except an eyesore and maybe some radiation. Now that’s America.

Move Your Sack

Let me get into the interesting details behind this week’s Dustinland comic.

See, I drew the first half based on my daily annoyances that are pretty well spelled out in the strip. But then, after it was all done and even uploaded, this morning I listened to an episode of This American Life, which I never do on my commute, because I never do the podcast thing, always opting for music instead. And this episode, it was about a French comedian trying to make it in America. At one point Jeff Garland is critiquing his set, and just goes off. “He’s a craftsman, but he’s not an artist because I don’t care about what he’s talking about. He doesn’t care! Talk about what you care about! That’s interesting!”

And I was inspired to go deeper with this strip. Because as you can see, I do care. It’s about the principle. Not just the bag, not just the minor inconvenience. Every time this happens, I think about all this stuff, all this human nature misery. It riles me up. That’s why I care. And now you know. Thanks, Ira Glass!

Livin The Dream?

This week’s Dustinland comic is basically a combination of all the discussions I’ve been having in the real world. I moved to the burbs about 5 months ago and so now everyone wants to hear my take on it. It’s like when you get married or have kids or get back from a big vacation. Everyone asks you the same things—for good reason. But it does get tiring having the same conversation over and over again. Although there are some subtle nuances that can be more interesting if you really dig into them. Like seeing skunks and fearing ticks. That’s when I enjoy the conversation more.

And man, I really did see a skunk this weekend, crossing the street in front of my house. A skunk! I live 40 minutes from NYC! Later I showed my kid a picture of a skunk and told him, hey, if you ever see this animal, STAY AWAY. And then a neighbor told me, oh boy, coming out in broad daylight, could be a rabid skunk. Man, that’s not cool. Skunks are bad enough. Now it’s a rabid skunk!

But yeah, I do like it out here.

Commuted

This week’s Dustinland comic is my first since moving to a house in Westchester, and my last before the stupid U.S. election. I decided to spare you more political nonsense and just threw you something lighthearted about my new place in the world. And yes, it’s been two weeks since my last update. Very unusual. Aside from vacations and work trips, I have updated my site with a new comic once a week since 2000. So as you can imagine, I’ve been busy. Man, moving SUCKS. Glad I’m finally here. It’s pretty great. And yeah, the comic thing, I do feel like that but only sometimes. Like when I sit on the back of the train where all the midtown finance guys sit. The front is way chiller.