​​​​​​​Carlen Vigo

(A post from the archives)

In 2008, when I decided to move to Iowa, I got a lot of strange looks from people. "Iowa?" they asked. "What's in Iowa?" For me, it was one of two grad schools where I was accepted, the other being Colorado-Boulder. The Linguistics department at Iowa actually contacted me while Colorado just sent me an envelope to send a $200 deposit. So, off to Iowa I went.

Going to Iowa was a huge leap of faith fo...

(A post from the archives)

Today, May 12, 2012, marks my last day of military service obligation. Eight years ago, I became a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. [Actually, it wasn't until May of 2014 that I was formally discharged.]

Growing up, I always had a bit of hero worship for my dad. This really came forth when I came of age and began thinking about my future, college, and the man I wanted to be. I lo...

(A post from the archives)

I learned this week that a friend of mine from college died. He was an F-15E pilot deployed overseas. His name was Dee Imlay.

I've been pretty affected by this loss. All week, in times of quiet or meditation, my thoughts would wander to Dee, and I would start to cry. I've been a little confused or surprised by these feelings - I'm not really sure what my overall reaction has been. All of my emotions...

(A post from the archives - the first in a 10-post series)

(3.5 hours under the needle)

On Wednesday, Mere and I headed back to Crossroads for my first session with Steve. I've written about my first big tattoo, so this is really the continuation of that. I cannot believe it's been 6 years almost to the day already. So, everyone's big question is, "Does it hurt?" Of course it hurts, but pain is a funny thing. It is a very indiv...

(A post from the archives)

My current comic book renaissance began in March of 2011. It's midterm week again, and I remember reading Essential Punisher 1 while giving out midterms last year. Since then, I've read a lot of comic books.

Aliens Omnibus 1, 2
Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus 1,2
Selections from DC's The New 52 (highly recommended)
Essential Avengers 1, 4 (I worked backwards)
Essential Dr. Strange 1, 2, 3 (my...

(A post from the archives)

This month marked the end of my 20's. For most of this year, I was scared to death. Then, I kind of got over it and tried not to think about it, but in the last week, it's started to really get under my skin.

I have had a lot of time for introspection this month, and I've come to realize a few things about myself. Physically I am fatter and my knees don't work for shit anymore.

Mentally I am too an...

(A post from the archives)

Day 30 (of 30)

Have you ever done something besides eat and go to the bathroom for 30 days straight? 

Now I have reached the goal I set for myself 30 days ago. It seems like so long ago. 

Back then, I was just coming out of my fog from watching too much TV and being complacent in my spare time. I was just re-finding the things that make me a man-child and happy: comic books, video games and a...

(A post from the archives)

Day 29 (of 30)

The other day our landlord decided to put up a little tin wall separating our porch from the neighbor's. The apartments on the upper floors of the building already had such walls built into the floor plan. Those of us on the ground floor just had a seam in the concrete to divide our little slabs in the sun. They installed these things in all the buildings up and down the street. For s...

(A post from the archives)

Day 28 (of 30)

You can divide the world into two groups: those that carry an umbrella and those who do not. For me, a waterproof jacket and a good hat are enough. I do not appreciate the looks from on high I get from the umbrella people.

I wrote this in a little notebook back when I studied at Louisville; I walked in the rain more than a few times on campus:

I slap on my blue Auburn hat, find an ap...

(A post from the archives)

Day 26 (of 30)

Do you ever sit in the bathroom and wonder how many other people in the world are doing the exact same thing? What if we all flushed at the same time?

Usually, I sit and try not to think of what might be crawling up from the drain into the bowl. That is about as vulnerable as a human being gets on a daily basis, so what if something just skewered you in a kind of reverse Alien chestb...