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Sick of the frivolously silly write-ups on this Web site, the four By George members who showed up at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find at 11:41 a.m. on Monday, March 29 decided to have a very serious meeting.

Present were Demure Dave McDonald, Totally Earnest Tom Haines, Jaundiced Jack Chapman and Grim Greg Russell.

Careful not to say anything that could be construed as funny or whimsical, the four solemnly agreed to have lunch at Ed's Tavern, the newest restaurant in the neighborhood.

The group knew that being solemn would be much easier without Steve Smith's jolly presence.

Also careful not to mention knights, cowboys or gay lovers, the quiet quartet cautiously crept across the street.

When all had been seated, Haines had a serious question for everybody: "When did Johnny Hart's 'B.C' comic strip first appear?"

Chapman pensively answered with the date closest to 1958, and Haines soberly awarded him with a travel bag from the 1997 Reuben award ceremony in Asheville. Chapman pretended not to be enthused.

It wasn't long before everyone's sandwiches arrived.

One of the waitresses said to McDonald, "I know you! You're the crazy dad of one of my best friends from high school!"

McDonald put a finger to his lips and whispered, "No. No, I'm not."

She exclaimed loudly, "Yes you are! We used to play at your house all the time!"

As beads of sweat began to appear on his brow for fear that news of his craziness would appear on the By George! Web site, McDonald muttered in a low voice, "Okay, it was me. But please don't call me 'that crazy dad.'

The young woman beamed as she walked away, "Okay. Sure. But you WERE crazy!"

McDonald put his face in his hands and sobbed as Chapman handed out a couple of his sketchbooks for the others to review.

His cartoons, caricatures, sketches and gestural drawings were beautifully done. He was clearly a master of his craft. It was amazing that such a serious man could draw with such a sense of ... humor.

He recommended Dr. Sketchy figure drawing sessions. Once a month at the Story Slam! Arts Center on Central Avenue, artists have a chance to draw from live models, enjoy some music, have a drink and enter contests. It sounded dangerously like ... fun.

Chapman also mentioned a figure drawing club in Matthews.

McDonald said he would like to study figure drawing. He thought that would help him with his hamster cartoons. Russell almost let out a chuckle.

McDonald guardedly informed the others of a mini comic book convention taking place in June at the Union West Regional Library in Indian Trail. He will be conducting a cartooning workshop the week before the mini-con. Marcus Hamilton and Al Bigley will be sketching and signing autographs the day of the event.

McDonald was also busy putting together a cartoonist kit for the school children that he teaches. It will include a sketchbook, pencils and instructional DVDs that he has filmed. McDonald's new character Vincent van Doodle will lead the children through the workbook. He is a serious man, indeed.

Haines announced that his humorous(!!!!) Vietnam War memoir "SNAFU" had been entered in the Novello Literary Award competition. If he wins, his book will be published and distributed by Novello Festival Press.

That somewhat joyous news was greeted with silent golf-claps.

Russell told the others that he had joined the Charlotte Art League and spent the previous Sunday taking in art for a juried show. He hoped that experience would inspire him to pick up a brush and get into painting again.

He had just wrapped up a landscaping book and was still in the process of designing a business book.

All in all, it was a very dour meeting, leaving this writer with nothing humorous to report.

Another of the waitresses was cajoled into taking a photo of the glum group. From left to right are Tom Haines (Smiling, the scoundrel!), Dave McDonald (Grinning, the cad!), and Greg Russell and Jack Chapman behaving properly.

The group disbanded at 1:17 and went on to live prim and proper lives until the next meeting ... when Smilin' Steve Smith returns.

On a really serious note: It has been discovered that Tom Haines has a couple of aneurysms and will be going in for surgery soon. Please keep him in your thoughts and try to stay in touch with him. He's going to be out of circulation for a little while ... so to speak. Was that a pun? Shame on me!