My research for this comic was sooo much fun! Because I live so close to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I decided that I should get a first hand account. I had a basic concept of what I wanted the sunday to be… but then I left it open to include what might happen while I was there.
For instance, I ran into a fella I’d met while on jury duty… Jay gives the kelp forest feeding show at the aquarium on thursdays… so he made it into the strip…. also the whole people with cameras thing… everyone had cameras aimed there at the fish… like fish paparazzi (I was there with my camera, too… as the blog will show).
Aw, no squid in there?
Ah… funny you should point that out!
Okay, I went to the museum looking for squid… I asked the info desk “Ou est les calimars?” And they replied… No, squid here. Turns out, squid, the large ones (Humboldt Squid) are elusive and once extracted from their environs, don’t survive well in captivity. This was disappointing as I really wanted Randie to interact with a squid… However, the Octopi (there are two at the aquarium) are very curious and interesting creatures (in the evening when they are active) so I will have Randie develop an interesting relationship with the octopus… because even though it’s a comic strip, I like to keep a certain amount of truth.
Monterey local here! Just finished going through the archives; saw today’s comic after clicking on a random link and immediately knew you were from around here, very cool.
Keep sane!
What gave it away? Yes, indeedee… I’ve lived “around the bay” now since 1996, when I moved up to go to UCSC (Slug U.)…. I couldn’t bring myself to leave after graduation. Currently, I live in Steinbeck’s backyard. Squid Row is, as you’ve musta found out by now, is based in the Cannery Row area… I lived up the street from the Monterey Bay Aquarium when I birthed the comic strip way back in 2002. Thanks for readin’! I hope you enjoy(ed)!
It’s been too long since I’ve been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium… I used to live more in that area but now I’m north of the (BIGGER) bay. Also I just finished reading up to here from the start after lukesurl mentioned you… I have to say, I really enjoy this comic. Especially Twinkie… I had a cat just that evil who only loved me (I love cats)… :3
I started reading this comic this morning when I saw it advertised on Aeire’s site. I read from start to this point in a trance.
This comic is brilliant. I can’t put to words the way it makes me feel… I’m trying to save for university at the moment, lose weight, sell my car, and all those complicated little things that start popping up around this point in life. I see myself living in a rustic university flat, my area covered in books, canvases, sketchbooks, pencils, paints, etc, going out for coffee at least twice a day, falling for the attractive late-night barista… and this comic just makes me want it all the more.
For what it’s worth, you’ve made my day. ^_^ <3
I second all these newly-besotted fans! I knew you ahd it in ya! Go, Squid!
Jude
“Look, kids. A real artist…”
That has GOT to be the absolute BEST compliment Randie could get. Having a teacher point you out to her students and say you’re a REAL artist. Does it get any better than that?
Have you gone up to the top floor so you can look down at the kelp tank (from the first panel) from above? I always like doing that – it’s the operations side of the display instead of the tourist.
hmmm… there’s a video online at the Monterey Bay Aquarium website that shows a feeding of their octopus, from above… but I haven’t actually been up there. You have then?
I’m talkin’ ’bout the big multi-story kelp tank. That’s easy to get to. The octo tanks – I think they’re accessed from behind the tanks but not sure.
I DO know that standing on the deck gives you a great view of pelagic cormorants running on the water to take off though.
Yes, yes… I’ve been over in that part…
is that gus????? props over to crow and nicky…..
Yah, huh!