Playing Around

Just wanted everyone to know that you may see things pop up, disappear, get rearranged or whatever as I play around with some things as time permits. For instance, the blog juice image on the sidebar, in case you were wondering.

Like I said before, my time is really limited right now, but I hope to add some things as time goes by.

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Scarce

I know I haven't been able to post much lately. Chalk it up to the holiday season and a bunch of work. Both good things in the grand scheme, but I miss the back and forth chatter here.

Things are so-so right now, but this is my favorite time of the year, so that helps. Oddly enough I have yet to crack open the Christmas music. Usually I'm playing it in September/October in preparation, but I have yet to listen to one Christmas song. That is very strange for me.

This year is going to be strange all together for me. Usually every year I would go over to my Pastor's for a couple of hours, bring them gifts and baked goodies. I didn't last year for obvious reasons, and this year and every year to come I won't be either, and that is very strange for me. This whole year has been very strange. 20 years of something then it's just gone, and it still hasn't quite sunk in yet after over a year now.

Anyway, all the shows I watch are ending for the holidays, which is good and bad for me. In the Fall the past two years I have watched a TON of TV after several years of watching hardly any. I watch so much right now I feel like I'm always watching, and that's not something I like to be associated with I guess. I mean I love watching good TV and movies (love movies) but I want to have time for other stuff too, you know?

So, the break for the holidays is a good one for me. Now I'll probably start pulling out the Christmas movies. lol. I've got to watch It's a Wonderful Life of course, that's a given. Then there's Family Man, Home Alone, The Santa Clause movies of course (haven't seen the third one yet), I saw A Christmas Story already, gotta watch A Christmas Carol, Elf, and Surviving Christmas (yeah, I know it tanked and got bad reviews, but I love it for some reason). I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting, but those are the ones I have to watch every year. I love them! It really helps get me in the mood.

Christmas has always been such a special time of year for me. Not because of the gifts, but I honestly thoroughly enjoy giving and making other people happy. That makes me happy. And spending time with family is something I love as well, and something that rarely happens these days. Now I love surprises too, and last year when I opened up a new TV I was totally shocked and thrilled, but it's really the giving that gets me. It tears me to pieces when I'm not able to give as much as I'd like in fact.

But I'm hoping things will still work out. I know we'll be okay, and the important thing is being together. So I'm cool with that. I do hope it snows on Christmas though. It hasn't really snowed much here in a few years.

So, even though I'm taking a much needed break from lettering to post I need to get back before I get too tired to do anymore. So until next time, whenever that may be...

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Quoted... Again!

This time by Marvel!

Technically it's by Dabel Brothers, but since they're under Marvel now I'm taking it as such. :)

I was quoted in a press release about Red Prophet, which can be read by clicking the title post.

It's a small mention, but it's nice to know my reviews are being read and enjoyed!

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Myth Conceptions

New column's up.

This week it's about returning the humor to comics.

Click the title to read it as usual.

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To Anonymous

Should you happen to read this...

First of all, I'd like to thank whoever you are for your kind and supportive words.

Secondly, I'm really curious to find out who you are. Obviously you are someone I know, but I don't know how well or how long ago.

If you'd rather not tell me here please click the title of this post to email me. Or if you'd rather, you can email me to tell me why you'd rather stay anonymous at least. I'd just really like to know.

Anyway, regardless of what happens from here, thank you.

I'd also like to point out to anyone else who has read the comments or posts I've made about church, which have been pretty vague, I wanted to clarify something. My reason for leaving my church of 20 years was not just because of hurt feelings. Had that been the case I would have left many, many years ago. No, it was a very complex situation involving a physical ailment and what followed from there. It wasn't really my choice to leave, you see, it was kind of forced upon me by a few things, which led to a lot more hurt on top of all the pain, both physical and emotional, that I was already going through.

To say anymore would not be appropriate, so I'll withhold any further comments. I just wanted to make it clear that hurt feelings aren't what pushed me away. I resolved long ago that my relationship was with God, not with people, in the sense that pleasing people with my walk is not my intention or my responsibility. I am to please God and God alone, which I feel I have. Yes, I've failed and I have flaws, but by and large I dedicated my entire life to His work.

Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest and make sure there was no confusion. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and that returning to the daily grind hasn't come as too much of a let down this holiday season.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all those who celebrate it a very Happy Thanksgiving today. Eat plenty of turkey and pumpkin pie for me!

Yesterday I did a little cooking. I made rolls, sweet potato souffle, corn pudding, pecan cheddar snacks, pumpkin pie and cranberry relish. My mother cooked the turkey, dressing and green beans & potatoes. See, we had a mini dinner at our house last night, just me, my mom and my brother, first time we've ever done that. It was really nice. My mom is very, very sick, bless her heart, and it was all she could do to stay out of bed. She's still really sick today unfortunately.

Mom's also making a Hornet's Nest cake to take to Papaws, and one to stay here. :)

I am thankful for this time I got to spend with my mom and brother. It's a rare occasion the three of us eat together.

I am also thankful for the support my mother has given me with my creative pursuits, and for the support I've gained throughout the comic community. I'm thankful for the friends I've gained, and for the revelations over the past year or so in many things.

Though things could always be better, and this has been a pretty rough year, I realize there are people a lot worse off than me, so I am thankful for the blessings I do have and have received.

Here's to all of you out there reading this. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and remember the good things if only for today.

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Scryptic Studios

I don't know if you guys have checked it out recently, but Scryptic Studios has relaunched with a new site! I happened to check it out the other day and noticed all the changes. You have to sign up again, but the login counts for both the site and the new forums.

As I understand it, they are still uploading scripts, columns and stuff, but the important thing is that the site is back, and it looks great!

Click the title post to check it out.

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Myth Conceptions

The latest Myth Conceptions column is up!

This week I talk about why I'm thankful for comics of course.

Check it out by clicking the title post.

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Even More Marvel Reviews

Three more reviews for your reading pleasure, should you dare!


Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures #2

Cable/Deadpool #34

Squadron Supreme #7


Union Jack #3


Enjoy!


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Indy-Pendant #74

The last IP column of 2006 is now live!

This week I have an interview with Dark Elf Designs Owner, Brian Germain. I also have two reviews, one of The Killer from Archaia Studio Press, and an advanced review of Cary Kelley's upcoming title, Fallen Justice!

You know the drill, click the title post to read the column.

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Paypal

Well, I've added a paypal link to my website... sort of. In an effort to qualify for the 1% cash back plan using my paypal card I added code they provided to state I'm now accepting paypal. But it doesn't send you to me, it just pops up an informative window about paypal. Oh well.

The important thing is now everyone should know that I do accept paypal, and now that I have a paypal card (just got it in the mail today) it's my preferred method of payment.

And if you didn't know, now ya know!

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Website Update

I added three new logos and temporarily fixed some of the problems. The art and lettering pages are still a little out of whack, but not nearly as much as they were.

I'll be updating the lettering samples soon.

I also updated the front page with some important info.

As I mentioned in the last post, I will be upgrading the format of the site as soon as I can, which will most likely be after the holidays. I intend on eventually making this blog the home page as anything else seems redundant to me.

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Website Problems

I just realized that for some reason my website now doesn't appear right in Internet Explorer. ARGH. I will be redesigning the site in the new year most likely. This just frustrates me because it's a quick and dirty html site. The scrolling tables were really nice (thanks, Cary), but the other problems just frustrate me to no end. I'm going to try to maintain the same look basically, just change from the computer box look to a more open site like most you see these days. Maybe when I'm famous I'll have someone design me some nice, artsy site, but for now functionality is key, and while this one is functional, if it doesn't appear properly in the browsers, and I can't seem to fix the problem then I feel it reflects poorly on me. Ugh.

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Email Problems

For some strange, unknown reason my Gonzogoose email is having problems and it's not letting me read any emails from that address. So if you have sent me something to that address and I have not responded then that's why. If you absolutely must get a hold of me please try one of my other emails as listed on the contact page linked above.

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Myth Conceptions

The column is up! Check it out by clicking the title.

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More Reviews

Forgot about these two:

Beyond #5

Red Prophet #3

The latest Myth Conceptions will be up later tonight.

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Indy-Pendant #73

This is the next to last IP column of the year, so check it out!

This week I review Mouse Guard #5 and Pierce #1. I had an interview lined up with a small press creator, but unfortunately he hasn't had time to get the answers back to me yet. Maybe next week.

And man, I went a few more days without posting and didn't even realize it. I've just been so busy and sick, though I am feeling much better now. Still under the weather, but not too bad. I've lost a little weight due to not eating much, and that's a good thing. And because I'm not eating much my stomach pains have calmed down. And what I do eat is pretty light and not the usual stuff I eat. So I still don't know what the problem is, but at least it's gotten bearable for the past few days.

Anyway, click the title post to read the column!

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Happy B-Day, Jay

Today is my cousin's birthday. Last year you all may remember me posting birthday wishes and some old photos of him. He said he was going to get me back for that. But actually I haven't even talked to him since Christmas last year.

Anyway, I doubt he'll read this, but I wanted to extend it anyway. He's the big 3-0 today! And that reminds me all to painfully that my own 20s will end in less than five months. Sigh.

Oh well, time marches on. I just wish I had taken the time to enjoy my youth a little more, but I guess we all wish that. Looking back I wish I had been a little less tight around the collar. Jay lived it up, probably more than I would have wanted to, but still he had fun, and that's cool.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, man, wherever you are and whatever you're up to these days. I'm still wondering which one of us will get married first. At this rate we may both be 50 year old bachelors. Lol.

On a more solemn note, today was also my brother's father's birthday had he lived. My brother hasn't mentioned it, but I'm sure it was hard on him. He's been talking about and thinking about his dad a lot lately.

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What's Going Downnnn

Man, I just can't break these stupid illnesses. I don't know if I caught my brother's stomach virus or something else because I've got the whole pounding head, stuffed up head, nose and chest, and fatigue crap going on. Right now my eyes feel like they're about to pop out of my skull and my nose won't stop running. Ugh! I stayed in bed pretty much all day today, and only got up because I had to. Wish I was still there!

Just found out yesterday my barber of 10-15 years is quitting the business. He's the best around here and many, many customers ask for him by name, but he's not making enough money. I believe he's going to be an electrician now.

It sucks because now I have no one to cut my hair. I've tried others, but they all mess it up. It's funny because I wondered what I'd do if I ever moved out of Kentucky (silly, I know) and now I'm faced with it while I'm still here. And the cruel thing is I was going to get it cut this week! Oh well.

Still haven't found anything new out about the house. Right now as it stands the best case scenario is that our rent will go up another $50-100, which is going to hurt. But that's better than having to move with nowhere to go and no money to get there. So that's what I'm hoping for right now.

Thanksgiving's just over two weeks away now and we're not sure what we're going to do. For as long as I can remember our entire local family (5-7 families depending, roughly 20-25 people) have gotten together for the holidays, but this year has been hard on everyone and they're thinking of breaking the tradition and having our own individual Thanksgiving dinners. Last year I missed Thanksgiving due to some personal issues, and now this year it looks like there won't be one. I wonder if Christmas will be the same?

Ah, the advil are finally kicking in on my headache a bit. Man, that's a major relief!

Nothing much on TV tonight. Friday Night Lights comes on (you'd think it would come on Fridays wouldn't you?) and that's a decent show. Aside from that it's a slow night. I have no life. :)

I hate Kentucky weather. It's been really cold the past few days, but then today it got hot. Now tomorrow I'm sure it'll be cold again. And it's not just the winter season either. It's like that all year! The weather here is so unpredictable. It could be rainy and 40 degrees in the middle of summer and 70 degrees in the dead of winter, and then both change the very next day. I hate it!

Well, I've read all the new comics I had on hand and probably won't get anymore for a few weeks. Guess I'm going to have to crack open a novel. Man, I wish SBC hadn't been sold out of the next Dragonlance one.

So that's about all that's going on in my world right now. Not much, I realize, but it is what it is, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself. ;)

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Myth Conceptions

The latest column is up. This week it's a journey into fantasy, so check it out (by clicking the title of course)!

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More Marvel Reviews

These are the last of a batch of Marvel reviews I did recently. Check them out when you get a chance!

Irredeemable Ant-Man #2

She-Hulk #13

Spider-Man & Power Pack #1

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Indy-Pendant #72

This week's column is up!

I had planned to have an interview, but things didn't work out that way. So instead I reviewed Dr. Blink, Superhero Shrink #3!

This was a hilarious read.

Click the post title as usual.

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Weekend Briefing

I'm not entering the NaNoWriMo this year.

After considering it for the better part of two more days and seeing everything on my plate and everything coming up I decided it would be way too much for me to handle this year. I know me, I would start and then feel pressured to stay on top of it, get overwhelmed, and be really hard on myself for not finishing it.

So, maybe I'll participate next year or better yet just write one at my own pace. I do think it's a really cool project, much like the global jam and 24 hour comics day events are for comics. It's just not feasible right now.

I'd love to hear if any of you are doing it though.


I'm most likely going to kill the sketch blog here real soon. I thought I would have more time to devote to it when I started it, but it's just not something I can do right now. It just sits there week after week and it bothers me. As soon as I have the time to shift those entries to here or the website or something I'll do so. Until then there will most likely be no more updates over there.


I have neglected to get the interview for Sunday's column I promised due to time constraints, so now I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Maybe I can do it on the fly, I don't know. I guess we'll see.


I am slightly behind on my lettering jobs (this week has taken its toll on me in more ways than one). Luckily I'm caught up on all upfront paying jobs except one, which doesn't have a hard deadline. The others I'm working on when I can. I just had a busy and stressful week, not to mention being sick. But I assure you all I am working on all of themand will be done soon. And I have tried to stay in constant contact with everyone except for today while I was offline for a good portion of the day.


Speaking of being sick, my brother came down with a viral stomach infection, which kept him out of school for half the week. I'm thinking maybe I had that on top of whatever else I have. I'm trying some Zantac to see if that helps me. I hope it does because it's gotten to the point that any time I eat anything I immediately have some sort of pain. At times it's a severe burning sensation, other times it's a pretty bad ache, and other times it just feels like, pardon the bluntness, a really bad case of gas. Used to it was mainly tomatoes and milk that affected it, and of course anything with those in it, which is almost everything I eat. But now it's bread, chicken, pop, anything really.


My Mom is thinking about getting into real estate. I mentioned here just recently how her doctor took her off even the minimal stuff she was doing at work. They have nothing for her and she's been sitting home for a week and a half. Well, my Mom has been to college twice and started courses before, but she never got to take them anywhere. Either before I was born or in my very early years she got an Associates Degree in nursing, but because of me she had to put it on hold. That and my Dad was a chauvinist that didn't think work was necessarily a woman's place. Then right before she found out she was pregnant with Zach she had returned to community college, but had to drop out for obvious reasons. Then Zach's dad died and she's been working hard labor ever since sadly.

When I was a teenager she worked several places, like as an administrative person at a hospital and she was a dance instructor, which is something she absolutely loved. I forget why she had to quit.

Well, come to find out, Mom had started to get into real estate many years ago, but again because of me or Dad she had to put it on hold. A few years ago she also tried to get into a prop designing business with her sister, but her sister kept dragging her feet on it. Mom couldn't do it alone. And man, she was good at it. She can still take items bought at a dollar store, put them together and they look like something out of a magazine. She just has an awesome talent and design since.

So anyway, now that physical labor is out of the question she has become interested in real estate for a number of reasons. Aside from the obvious lack of physical lifting and such, one reason is the lucrative possible income potential. Also, my Mom could sell fire to Satan, without lying. She's been in retail before, and she is just good. She's got an awesome way with people and she's very, very likable, which is surprising because she can be very blunt. I guess the honesty with a sincere, non-demeaning smile and tone works wonders for her.

So I'm looking into what she could do to get started. She's not one to sit around doing nothing, and she's much happier doing something fulfilling, as we all are I suppose. She's worked hard (believe it or not, the 5ft 3, then petite woman was a bricklayer in her 20s) all her life and isn't one to sit on her laurels. These injuries and our circumstantial lifestyle have really taken the liveliness out of her. Hopefully this will be something positive for her.

Zach and I have been getting along really well the past few days. Of course he's always nicer when he's sick, but it's something different. I think we're finding our way back to that connection we had that for various reasons, the fault of both of us, got broken for a while.

Well, my nap earlier to revitalize me to be able to catch up on work through the silence of the night hasn't really helped. Now I've got a heaping headache and am still very tired. Luckily so far the Zantac has helped. I ate some cream cheese and crackers before my nap and my stomach isn't hurting yet. That was around 7 hours ago, so hopefully this is working.

Anyway, as I said I have a ton of work to do and daybreak (and the breaking of the silence as people awaken) is fastly approaching. So I'm off.

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Possibly Absent

I just wanted to let you all know it's possible I won't have internet access today. If that's the case I should be around tomorrow. So if anyone needs to contact me just email me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks.

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NaNoWriMo

So, everyone's talking about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), even Yahoo! For those unaware, it's a fun excercise started 7 years ago where writers take one month, the month of November naturally, to crank out a complete 50,000 word novel.

Sounds like a lot, huh? Well it is. To keep on schedule you would roughly have to produce 1,600 words a day, or about six pages. Yet thousands upon thousands of people participate each year. The object is quantity, not quality. It can be any genre and is known for its sense of being a community project. You can set up a blog through the site (linked in the post title) and share your chapters and get feedback, and you can give feedback to others.

The project began yesterday, I just didn't have a chance to post about it. I have not signed up, though I seriously thought about it (am thinking about it?). But for all you other writers out there, you're only one day behind. There's still time to get started. And from my understanding it doesn't really have to be from scratch. It could be something you've already started. I could be wrong though, so check it out for yourselves.

As for me, I really wanted to do this just to get my creative juices flowing and see if I had what it takes to complete a novel. But with taking time off one of the columns and all the lettering work and holidays coming up I just don't know if right now is the best time for me to jump into it.

I'll make a definite decision today at some point as I wouldn't want to get too far behind. Maybe I should do it even if I don't finish. It would give me an excuse to finally start that novel I've somewhat plotted out. I guess you'll all find out whether I do or not soon. The question is will you give it a shot?

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Undertaker's Daughter

The title of the post is the title of a web comic I lettered recently. This web comic by Eric Palicki has just gone live on his new website (linked in the title post), so if you get a chance check it out!

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A Couple Of New Reviews

I had a couple more reviews posted up on www.silverbulletcomics.com. I've got some more upcoming as well, but these two are...

X-Men: Phoenix Warsong #3

Uncanny X-Men #480

Both of these come out today.

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