Happy Easter, everyone! Or Happy Passover, or just Happy Spring!

Granted, it's snowing here in Chicago - not to mention various spots all over the country - but it is indeed spring.

We got hit with two big news stories yesterday - the bad (former Governor is formally indicted!) and the good (the Chicago Bears actually picked up Jay Cutler as quarterback!).

Of the two, the second is actually the more interesting (come on - you knew Rod Blago was going to get his ass hauled into court after they arrested him!), and I'm not even that much of a Bears fan. It's just that Jay Cutler, a Pro Bowl quarterback, suddenly decided he wouldn't play for Denver, and at least six teams wanted him (hey, a proven, trained QB? Are you kidding?) and the Bears are pretty much seen as being a far number six.

So what happens? Bold trade, that's what.

We have a quarterback.

I think they took a page from the Chicago Blackhawks, a hockey team that hadn't even had their games televised for fear it would hurt hte take at the auditorium - naturally, that had just about killed hockey in this town. Until the owner sold the team, the new owners took over and began making Bold Moves. Like honoring the previous greats. Putting the team back on television. Acting like they wanted the fans to at least pay attention!

And it worked. The city went Hawks-crazy, even though they're just going to squeak into the playoffs.

I think someone at the Bears finally said, hey, we want people to like us? Let's make a Bold Move(tm)!

This just happened last night, and even with Blago being indicted? Blago was the second story on the news! That's how big it was!

This is the kind of thing I'm trying to get across in my Americana stories - that just by showing up, she's news!

Speaking of Americana, there's a whole bunch of new Americana art in Americana's Art Gallery #23 and #24!

And as for stories?

Well, I'm making up for last issue, with four new Americana adventures!

Or, technically, three, since I did manage to post the first one up a couple of days after deadline.

That one, Dawn of the Seven Treasures finds Americana visiting a friend and running smack into trouble. Then, she runs into a little side jaunt - or rather, The Sideshow.

Our little journey into Japanese folklore continues as Americana faces Scourge of the Seven Treasures. Then, can even Americana withstand the unleashed fury when she stands against the Rise of the Silver Dragon?

All in all, a pretty good bunch of stuff!

And baseball season starts today! Ahh, spring!

I'll be heading to California to see my parents and sister and grandmother over Easter - just a real quick three day trip, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!

Here's hoping everyone has a great spring!

K.C.