TOP 2010 LISTS!!!!

Its that time again. My top lists of 2010!!! Here we go---

Top 5 COOLEST EVENTS:
1- Concerts! I went to two concerts this year. Transatlantic and Roger Waters performing THE WALL. Great shows. Equally as awesome for different reasons. Probably best concerts I have ever seen.
2- Lions Game! My first NFL game seeing live ever. It was wonderful and a great time. Will definitely do more next year. At least two more. Gonna make a yearly thing.
3- Michigan Conventions! First up was Motor City in Novi, which was wonderful. My most financially successful show I have ever done. I had a primo spot, was treated well and had great fun. Best hotel experience as well. Then later in the year I had Detroit Fanfare which was great fun. My friend Ted went with me and we hung out with all my pals. Finally met Dante from Clerks, who was a great dude. All in all Michigan comic shows be very good to me!
4- Heroes Con. Roomed with Uko, Grant and Anthony and had a wonderful time. My table placement sucked and it wasn't the best financially, but I still had a great time. Im torn about going again next year cause its such a great time.
5- Move to Lansing. Probably the biggest personal event of the year. Life is sweeter and greater here, as I knew it would be. Screw Southwest Michigan. I love my new life!

TOP TV SHOWS:
1- Doctor Who Season 5- A great show once again and Matt Smith stepped into the big shoes left by Tennant and did a great job.
2- Hollywood Treasures- A fun new show talking about movie props. Theres a tad too much drama in some parts that I wish they wouldn't focus on, but the rest of it is really cool.
3- The Walking Dead- A great new show. I like what they are doing with it as opposed to the comic. Its got kinks here and there, but I am confident in its entertainment value.
4- Man vs. Food- The wife turned me on to this. A fun show. Makes me hungry and disgusted all at once.
5- Destination Truth- Its entertaining when they are going to a new country and exploring but the actual investigation I could do without. But still, entertaining.

TOP 5 MOVIES: (Note: I haven't seen a whole lot of new movies in 2010. Its not been that interesting of a year. Plus with a two year old, I don't get out to the movies much. But here's what I did see)
1- Iron Man 2 - It was okay. Entertaining. I liked it. I don't want to be super critical anymore.
2- Jackass 3D - HIGHLY entertaining. I loved it.
3- Machete - Entertaining. It wasn't the total throwback that I wanted it to be and it does have its problems. But overall, it was fun movie going.
4- Expendables - Again, wasn't a total throwback that I wanted it to be. But it was fun. I enjoyed it.
5 (I have nothing for #5. But I reserve this spot for TRUE GRIT, which I haven't seen. But the trailers look awesome! I cannot wait to see it)

TOP 5 CDS:
1- NIN: Pretty Hate Machine re-release. The sound quality on this is awesome. Love it!
2- TRansatlantic Live - The CD/DVD version of the concert I saw. GREAT!
3- STone Temple Pilots #5 - A so-so album. But still notable. I didn't buy much else "new" music this year.
4- Brian Posehn: Fart and Wiener Jokes - A great comedy album
5- Doctor Who Specials Score - I've listened to the 10th doctor regeneration music over and over this year. AWesome score for the Tennant specials.
(I've got the Bill Hicks retrospective coming in the mail. I reserve this as potentially replacing something on this list)

TOP 5 WORST EVENTS:
1- Pete Steele RIP - A tragic loss to the music world of mine that is slowly dwindling. I am a huge TYPE O fan and to see him go is an amazing loss. I'm still bummed about it.
2- Unemployment - Still up in the air. Haven't found that pie in the sky deal.
3- Family Health - Some of my family members are going through some rough stuff right now. And even myself, I've hit some uncomfortable, unknown strides. Health sucks.
4- Employer/Employee assholeism - at a former recent job of mine, there was some definite BS going on. And I am soooooooo glad to be rid of it. Life is too short to worry about that shit. Oh well. I'll never have to see those people again ever. So fuck em.
5- Move and then move again. Seems about 1/2 this year all my possessions were in fucking boxes. And the constant physical moving sucked too. Oh well. It all worked out in the end.

TOP 10 NEW PURCHASES:
1- House of Usher Bootleg- Found this on Ioffer. Its a dvd rip of the TV version of this story starring Martin Landau and Robert Hayes that I was scared of as a little kid.
2- Grindhouse BR - SOooooooo glad I waited for this release. Has everything I wanted on it. Its fucking dope! Best BR I bought this year.
3- Empowered Trades - Best new series I bought this year. AWESOME book!
4- Ghostbusters swag - Two things: An actual animation cell from "The REAL Ghostbusters" cartoon I enjoyed as a kid. And my first (and likely only) high end collectible figure. I got the EGON for $65. Alot of money but totally worth it. It looks awesome collecting dust on my shelf. Will be great ebay fodder for my family when I croak.
5- Cover Run: Art of Adam Hughes - A great collection of art, sketches and commentary. I'm really into artbooks and sketch books this year.
6- ICON: ARt of Jim Lee - Again, same as the Hughes book.
7- Jay Fosgitt Sketchbook - Now this is what a sketchbook should be. A free sketch on it, each page is PACKED with sketches, commentary and more. No dead space. Best sketchbook I've got in a while. Score yours at jayfosgitt.com (and I'm not just plugging it cause I know the guy. Its really a great sketchbook)
8- Vintage Nintendo Powers - Been wanting these for a while and I finally got it. Very great to relive those magazine memories.
9- Mike Portnoy: In Constant Motion DVD - I've always balked at the price but I finally got over myself and its well worth it. a great dvd full of rare footage and drum instructional footage.
10- Wii - Just fun.

TOP 10 THINGS LEARNED:
1- Moving music to digital is doable - I went through and have been getting rid of alot of my "shelf porn" this year. And one major project was getting rid of most of my physical music media. I kept the beatles and some box sets. But all other cds are gone. I don't miss them either. Best decision in a while. What do I need all that crap for? I got the music! Thats all I need.
2- Back up stuff!!! - Yeah, I had a HD crash this year. So glad I backed up my stuff. Great idea. Keep doing that.
3- Loseit.com - a Great site. If I ever keep up with it.
4- Comic Shows re-evaluation - Been doing alot of thinking on this and my future in this "Industry." In 2011, I am launching a new idea and way of doing things. I'll keep this personal for now.
5- Webcomics - hmmmnnnn.....
6- Prints far outsell my comics - One of the reasons I made mad $$$ at shows this year. Its great, but I want people to read the work! But certainly keeps me financially afloat. I appreciate it.
7- People in other countries appreciate my work more than USA folk do - Its true. I've made more $$$ overseas this year than here from my fellow yankees. I do love ya faithful USA friends. But overseas is beckoning!
8- Color comics look so much better - One look at ANNA POCALYPSE over PLEASANT LIFE speaks volumes.
9- Podcasting is fun! - Not only the idiothead.com podcast, but I've continued with the others from talkshoe.com and I've got a nice following of people from it. I really appreciate that you continue to put up with me and find me "entertaining." I'm in awe of that. Thank you.
10- What matters in comics most? FRIENDSHIP - That has never steered me wrong. I've had good friends step up for me this year and I cherish them for it forever. Thank you everyone in a list far too long to name.

GOALS FOR 2011---
1-Complete Secret Project x.
2-Complete Secret Project y
3-Complete Lingerie Party Massacre and make 2012 Horror Con plans
4-Keep afloat financially and pay off bills.
5-Get this kid of mine to talk more!!!!!

thanks for listening!

T