The two things that killed spam on my blog: 1) making the comments link a javascript: link reduces the number of robots that can reach it, and 2) silently requiring a cookie to post but only setting that cookie on the main page, so readers can post but robots lack cookies. You also should have a Previously On Chompy post, introducing us to Ali and telling us how you got to the West Coast. The jarring shift from New England feels too much like LOST.