Slurpees and Popsicles!

Hey friends! 

 

I have had a busy time as usual. Work, artwork, sleep, family, repeat. But I have been making some progress! 

 

I chatted with my STARSLAM 3 colorist to see if he is on board to color STARSLAM 4 and he is in! So there is good news once again. I will be sending him some pages pretty soon. Also I have been working very hard to get caught up with commissions. I just gotta letter a 5 pager and finish art on an 8 pager and then I am finally caught up. Although a couple other guys want me to do a few more story based ones. The money, is good, to be honest. I need to be paying off my stuff and making up for some of the purchases I have been doing lately.

 

To be honest, I've gone a bit overboard. I'm not in trouble, but just went a tad crazy on the pre-orders. So I am curbing it for the rest of the summer. No seriously! There is a CD/Vinyl show here in town tomorrow and I am not going. So its that serious! HA! 

 

I'm joking, kids. I'm all good. Just want to get my card paid back down before the holidays come around. Also I got the big show in Mt. Pleasant in October to save for. I've been working very hard to juggle everything. But the last month or so we've dealt with some depression and my oldest son came for a visit, so we did some spending. Its okay. Life is happening! It all good. Health is better too. I am lower in weight than I originally thought I would be. So that is always a good thing. 

 

The sad news is that I don't think me doing TWO Kickstarters in Aug/Sept is logical or doable. I'm just not that caught up yet. But I want to get STARSLAM 4 really rocking and then launch the Kickstarter for that. I think... I am not sure which way to go. I penciled some killer new pages for that comic this week. I can't wait for you all to see this thing! 

 

But the work on everything continues and the PATREON is nice and caught up all the way to November. I got 5 other stories for it beyond that in various stages of development. All references are pulled and things are happening. But I gotta get these commissions and STARSLAM 4 rolling more before I can focus on those. But to be good and far enough ahead on it is a great thing! I got the comics all scheduled all the way to September. I just need to word balloon and upload the comics beyond that. I need a nice couple quiet days of solid productivity to get it done. Here's hoping!

 

Last week my oldest son visited. We took the opportunity to take a photo of me with all three of my boys. I think its one of the best pics I've ever taken. (And I hate pics of me!) Here it is: 

 

 

 

Handsome group, don't ya think? I think so! I'm proud of all three of them. 

 

Anyway, just giving an update to say that I am working hard and being quiet because of the productivity. Believe me, soon you will all get sick of hearing from me! 

 

Till next time, stay cool, eat them slurpees and down those popsicles! 

 

--T

Chugging Through

I'm working on it.

Welcome back, friends. Busy times are upon me and I haven't had a chance to sit down and type anything to you. I have updated my PODCAST, but not the blog here. I feel like I owe it to you guys a bit to keep you visually informed as well... so here we are.

Life is okay. I had a rough last week. Then last weekend was busy with the kid's birthday and my dad/sister visiting. Then this week was rough again. Just been going round and round with some soul cutting anger and stress in some various things. But I am working hard on stuff and I got a vacation weekend a mere 24 hours away and I am going to enjoy the fuck out of it. I need it. I really do.

But I'm trying to keep sane and happy....

For example, a couple weeks ago I bought and assembled this. I haven't bought Legos in years and always have desired to. So I saw this in the store and said FUCK IT! I'm glad I did.

 Not only am I enjoying some childish toys, but I am listening to music I used to jam on when I was younger. And I reached out for some freelance work and I am happy to tease that I am back on a sketch card set. I don't think I can say what it is yet, but its one of the most popular properties outside of Star Wars right now. I am about 1/2 way done penciling the cards. I chose a small batch just to make sure I could do them without any troubles. I'll show them off when I can.

I also did this:

Finally! A cover to my new upcoming erotica book is revealed! Kickstarter soon!

I am putting the finishing touches on the book and it will launch soon.

I'm spending time with family...

Lily and I.

Lily, Luna and their boss.

Scott Bot opens a birthday present (he turned 9 this year)

Little James opens one of his birthday presents. He turned 5 years old. Wow!

The boys playing together.

And I also visited another group of old family....

Did a quick sketch of the Pleasant Life gang. I miss them.

I'm hoping that my efforts to clear out the bullshit from my life are starting to harden and shape itself. The roots are deep and should last through future tests. The mountain is being climbed. I know what I have to do and how I want to get it done. I have goals (personal, professional, creative, etc) and I'm juggling them all. This train is chugging through. Come what may.

Thanks for coming back to visit me here. Kickstarter for EROTIC ZONE and other art news is coming very soon!!!!!

--T

Labor Day Pains

STREEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!

Heh... anyway, welcome back, folks. Yeah its been a crazy weekend. I did relax a little.

On Saturday, I went to my co-worker's house, where we all collectively played the re-release of NIGHT TRAP (videos coming) and then beat MEGA MAN 2. Took me 30 years but its finally done. Check that off the list!

After a long week of work, I had planned on getting a lot of shit done around me. I managed to clean the car and finally move around and organize my shelves of books and comics at home. Saturday night I hung with co-workers playing video games. But then when I got home I was sick and vomiting. Something about Little Caeser's Hot N Ready pizza sauce, I can't handle anymore. The man in my tummy hates me.

Sunday I got the kids the majority of the day and then spent some time with D getting groceries and doing stuff around the house.

Monday, I got up early and got the last of the boys' bday presents and got them all wrapped. Then I finally sat down and got some artworking done. I got 5 commissions fully penciled, inked and halfway colored. I also inked and scanned the Erotic Zone cover and a couple other pieces for Starslam 3... one of which might be the cover. I am not sure yet. I'll color it and we'll see.

This week I got a ton of stuff to get done. More artworking, laundry, keeping the house straight... my dad is coming this week to stay with us over the weekend and he's bringing my sister. Also this weekend I will have the boys. It will be a full house in our tiny apartment, that is for sure.

Anyway, just giving an update. Barring any major event to come this week, I might be MIA for a while due to being busy. I hope everyone's weekend was great. I'll see you on the flipside. The EROTIC ZONE book is almost complete!!! Kickstarter soon.

Cheers, T

Vacation Week!

Hey friends!

I'm reporting to you from my much needed vacation week. We took some travels to go see my father in southern Illinois, and it was a good trip all around. We ate hearty, saw all the family and spent as much time with dad as we could. He seems to be getting along mostly okay, which is all you can ask sometimes. We visited the graveyard and paid respects to everyone there too, especially Mom and Gloria. We found the drive there to be enjoyable but the drive back was a pain. It rained the whole way, semi trucks were not able to stay in their lane (had a couple close calls). It just took a long damn time to get back. We are taking the time now to relax and enjoy each other's company, as well as just enjoying being home. We are NEVER home due to working so much. And when we are home, we usually have a house full of kids or friends... so there's never any US time or even ME time. Yesterday we did just that. We had separate ME time and then US time. Much needed. I'm getting some reading done, which is good. Yesterday I spent time with Mr. Booze and played guitar for a while. I was happy that my carpal tunnel didn't act up very much so I could get some playing in. One day I cooked us a big breakfast and we were enjoying the nice weather and air flowing through the apartment.

Its taking in the little things that make a vacation worth having.

And of course boredom creeped in and so I had to get some work done. I shrunk and scanned over 25 pages of art for Starslam 3. I cleaned them up digitally and then sent them to my colorist. I even penciled 5 new pages before my hand gave out. I'm trying to adjust, folks. I'm trying.

This weekend I got some activities planned that I keep delaying. Including yet another Nintendo party with friends. That should be fun. Then a planned outing on Sunday. Also I hope to squeeze some more artworking and reading in there somewhere. I feel the vacation days dwindling away and I hope I can feel nice and refreshed before Tuesday rolls along and I am back to the day job grind.

This last week some stuff went down that I didn't comment on yet publicly. I've been too busy. First up was the passing of Roger Moore. He was the first 007 that I remember watching as a kid. Later on as an adult I'd go on to enjoy all the Bond movies, making Sean Connery my favorite. But Roger always had a special place in my heart for starting it all for me. He made being a deadly spy fun. RIP.

Also this week was the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS. Now most know me as a hardcore STAR TREK guy, but credit where credit is due... Star Wars came first in my life. I remember watching it on Betamax as a kid for the first time and how the world changed for me. I listened to the records and books. I played with all the action figures (some I still have). In college I collected all the new figures (Still have em). Even today I still buy the occasional Han Solo or Jedi Luke. I remember my college job of working in a theater during Phantom Menace opening night. I was watching my kids the other day waving their light sabers while watching Star Wars. So many memories.... so many good times.

Well I got relaxing to do and I'm likely to cook a meal for my bae here in a bit. Then off to my gatherings. Everyone have a good Memorial Day weekend! Let's enjoy the time off while we still have it.

--T

Family Weekend

 Hello friends!

Had a busy week here in the Talley house. My dad came to visit starting on Wednesday. Then he went up north to visit my brothers. I went up Friday and we all had lunch together. Kind of a rarity to get any of us all together anymore! It was nice to do. Then dad came back here to Lansing on Saturday and spent the day with my boys. We all had a massive sleep over. To my surprise it all worked out quite well! The boys were happy to see their grandpa. He left this morning for southern Illinois. It was great to have him here. I miss him very much when we are so far apart in distance like we are. He's doing ok. Coping with what he has got. We had a few deep deep deep conversations about all things spiritual, mental and emotional. When you can connect with your parent on that level, its a real treat.

I introduced James to the wonders of listening to music with headphones. I think he's addicted!

James and grandpa got real close I think: 

Its been an exhausting weekend. Emotional. Lots of juggling. But it was good. I made everyone hamburgers. Then today I made pork chops and mashed potatoes. We all ate hearty. I got James a brand now toy vacuum to add to his obsession. I didn't get to relax much. But later on after everyone left, my pal Jeff came out and we got some lead onto some paper. I eventually dozed off for a mini nap and now I'm up drinking a few and doing some odds and ends.

Good news so far this week is that I got another full story for the Patreon penciled. I am down 6 pounds on the new diet. I'm getting through some things. But things are looking brighter here. Every day brings progress.

Anyway, lets tackle this next week and see what happens. Come what may.

Cheers, T

GUNS N ROSES, ALICE IN CHAINS, CAR WOES, ILLINOIS TRIP and RINGO STARR!!!

Hey friends. An absolute whirlwind of a weekend. Let me try to recap:

Thursday, I go to see Guns N Roses/Alice in Chains at Ford Field in Detroit. The opening night of the Guns reunion tour! While waiting at Hockeytown Cafe for a table before the show, we notice someone coming in who looked oddly familiar. My friend said "Hey thats a pretty good Ringo Starr lookalike." I look again.

"No, THAT is Ringo Starr!" Ringo was playing a show that night at the nearby Fox Theater and decided to go to Hockeytown Cafe for some pre-show eats. Amazingly, no one was bothering him and he only came in with one person. All them young folks probably didn't recognize him. He was literally 2 feet away from me at one point! My friend followed him and stealthfully snapped a pic:

"I'm very happy to be here!" Yes, I have now seen both surviving Beatles in the flesh!!!

I settled down for a couple mixed drinks and a nice BBQ burger.

Then on to Ford Field. Alice in Chains took the stage at 8:30 sharp and man did they sound great! Duvaul sang Layne's parts extremely well. They played all the hits too. Sean Kinney had a drum cam which they showed often which was great. I'm a big fan of his drumming. They played old stuff, new stuff... all of it well worth the price of admission. 

Jerry Cantrell had the vintage "Honeycomb" guitar he used to record all those old 90s albums!

Finally Alice in Chains left the stage and GUNS N ROSES came on literally 25 minutes later. Like, ON TIME! WOW! and Man, they were fucking killer. 25 songs. Deep cuts and covers like COMA, THE SEEKER, WISH YOU WERE HERE jam and so much more. Awesome, awesome show. 

Reports of Axel Rose signing badly are greatly exaggerated. He sounded awesome!

Everyone needs some DUFF in their lives.

Grand finale pyro.

I'd highly recommend anyone check out the Guns N Roses reunion tour. I got some audio from the show that I will play on my podcast in the future, so look for that. But yeah man. They put on a great show for us. Amazing!

Friday, I get up early and head to Port Huron to get my son Cody. The day before I got an oil change and they said I had a major oil leak and the whole bottom of my Bat Blazer was wet. I'd need an overall tuneup to the amount of like $600-800! UGH. But they said if I put oil in the car every stop or so, I'd make it to Illinois for my trip I planned. So once returning with Cody after a 4 hour drive, we drove the 7 hours south to Carmi, Illinois to see my dad. He was in good spirits and happy to see us.

Saturday we spend all day looking at the car. Surprise: NO OIL LEAK AT ALL. I have no idea what that guy was telling me at all. But I did massively overfill the oil on the trip down so that had to be drained and we put new oil in. I also desperately needed new tires so we drove to Evansville and had those replaced. Car is good to go for another long while hopefully. It was good to see lots of my family on so short a visit. And much thanks to Steve at S&E Auto in Carmi for dealing with my car woes.

I was juggling a lot on Saturday. Emotionally, with being down there and seeing mom's grave and all those things to some drama up north at home. It wasn't a good day and I was even more stressed than possible. But I just chugged water and tried to stay calm and enjoy myself. I spent time with dad and we had a good talk. Finally late Saturday we headed back home. Cody and took the long drive all night and finally arrived home at 4:30am. I was simply mentally and physically exhausted. But now I'm home and taking care of business. I'm working on getting the Starslam books sketched and other things taken care of. Lots to juggle. But I'll make it happen. It's what I do.

Anyway, back to the grind. At least I got my son here this week to keep me company!

Cheers, T

Closing the Museum and Reclaiming ME (through DVDs/BR's!)

Welcome back friends. It has been a while since I've done a deep waters type of blog. Bare with me.

My dad is visiting me this weekend. He's really in deep grief over losing his wife last year. Completely understandable. I feel bad for him. He was married to my mom for 33 years until she died in 2000. Then he remarries a great, great gal and she dies 14 years later. Now he's in his 70s and alone. He lives in a big house full of reminders of her and his past life with others and he doesn't know how to deal with it. He now suffers from major anxiety, panic attacks and probably depression. He hides it well, but I know the symptoms.

I am similar in many ways. I've lost my life at one point as well. Twice, actually. When you basically have to start over from these things, you go through the feels. And its important to go through them. Sadness, Anger, Bitterness... but then one day it sort of just goes POOF! And its gone. Like, yeah it happened. But you made it through it. You survived. You cannot live like a victim all your life.

People die.
People get divorced.
Shit happens.
And its not unique.
Like ocean tides, we ride it all out.

In the end, you find yourself still standing. But when you build your life around someone else and they are no longer there, you are forced to look inward and find out who YOU are. In many ways, I'm still doing that. Maybe I always will be.

When we encounter loss of any sort, you hold on to things. When my mom died, I kept many items that was hers. It made me feel better. But slowly it became a pain to take these things with me and make them a part of my life. Slowly, I learned to let these things go. They where ghosts. Pieces in a museum of my history. And I got tired of reliving it. Some I tossed. Some I gave away to people who I consider personally close to. It just felt right to part with these things. I no longer needed them. In the end, it was just STUFF. And not MY STUFF. I got the best parts of that person anyway in my head. Memories. Their voice in my head. I miss both my moms very much, but they will always still be alive in me, in some way.

Also, when you encounter loss of any sort, you start to reclaim things about yourself. I got back into heavy production of my comics and working hard at 2-3 jobs. Then I got a main job and focused heavy on that. I got the added bonus of meeting many new friends and traveling more. And then I met a couple girls who changed my life and gave me happiness. One girl chose to pursue the life she wanted and I encouraged it. Happy for her. Now I met someone else out of nowhere and she is a different animal. She has helped me embrace parts of myself that I always ignored and have now become comfortable with. She listens and cares about me. She reads my stories and loves to catch up on my blogs here and my podcasts. She's thirsty for knowledge about me. Its unreal. But quite welcome!

All these things I put on the back burner before. But now, I've made them and my happiness a priority. I had to. I had to create NEW memories. I didn't want to be haunted by what happened. I couldn't become a bitter, angry person. I wanted to live and be happy. It took a while, but I made it. Sure, it pops up now and then, but mostly now, its gone. Life goes on and so must we all.

So we close the museum and we reclaim who we are. When I started my journey of the big REBOOT back in January 2015, I had nothing. Just my clothes, cds, vinyl, computer and my books. No tv, no furniture, no bed. I sold all my dvds and blurays to help with my move, food, gas and new bills. Cause I wasn't being paid dick at my two part time jobs. So when I got stable and I found that I enjoyed this new focused priority on my comics and traveling, I decided its time to reclaim ME. And by me, through STUFF! So I did. Little by little I increased my vinyl collection and I started buying DVDs and BluRays. Today I went and got a shelf for them. Check out my collection:

My new shelf! I still don't have ALL my discs on there. I might have to get another one!

My BluRays and Horror collection. Some are missing cause they are loaned out!

Some TV box sets. Some for the kids, but mostly for me!

Odds and Ends, Comedy, Music related and Stand Up!

I don't have nearly as much as I want to get, but I will work on it over time. These here represent me reclaiming myself. I bought back all I had lost and even more. I could make a list of things I want but I honestly have no agenda. I just get things when the whimsy hits me. It feels good. Shelf porn. I'm a big fan of it. I proudly display my things again instead of hiding them from my kids. I'll teach them to respect my things and not touch them... especially that Scott-Bot, who I know is gonna flip when he sees this! (He loves playing with discs)

I don't even have time to sit and watch these movies. Most of these I have never watched since the day I bought them. But I wanted them. Because they are a part of me. The museum of ME! Not a memory of something sad that happened to me. But its a visual soundtrack to my life and likes. This, and my vinyl and my CDs... along with my comics, my kids, my writing... all of these are me.

And I am happy today to say, I like me. Maybe for the first time, ever.

--T

(PS And speaking of reclaiming, I got tickets to see GUNS N ROSES on their reunion tour with my pals Nick and Christine. Its gonna be fuckin' balls awesome!) 

Kickstarter: LAST DAY!

Hey everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates in a week and change. Been busy! Kids have Thanksgiving week off and thus, I don't get use of my computer all day! This past weekend I took a surprise trip 8 hours south to southern Illinois to see my folks. My step-mom is having some issues with her cancer and so I thought they could use a nice surprise visit, even though it was very short. But I am back after a crazy couple days of driving and no-sleep. Last week also, I was 100% focused on getting my Marvel cards done and out the door. I got two more sets coming I gotta work on, but I got time on them.

For now, lets talk STARSLAM!!!

As of this writing, there's less than 26 hours left. Home stretch. We're now at almost $2700!!!! FAR FAR beyond what I asked for initially. I am really blown away by the support for this book. And best for me, about 95% of the people pledging are people I don't know! So I am gaining new readers with this Kickstarter Project, which is what this whole thing is about.

Crunching the numbers: After I pay for printing and shipping costs, I will not clear much for personal funds. Maybe around $500. I didn't think I'd have to ship so many books. Also, I neglected to charge extra for overseas shipping. But I am happy as hell to eat the cost on it so that people can read my stuff. The fact that they checked me out at all means the world to me. So NO COMPLAINTS at all on my end! This whole thing was about getting new eyes on my stuff and this certainly has done that!

The book is 110% done and waiting for launch day. I got my files in my drop box, ready to place my order with Greko printing. All is set. And guess what else... This last week, I started work on STARSLAM #2!!!

Today I pencilled page nine. So I am already NINE PAGES into it! The sequel will come soon. Don't want to rush it. But I can say its bigger and bolder than the first one. Real good stories and tons of sexy time in it. And to those waiting on other stuff from me: Its still coming. But after the instant success of STARSLAM Book #1, I just had to rush work on starting a sequel. I had the outline of a script already but I fleshed it out after I got initial funding and started thumbnailing and researching. This week, I started on it. I want to stay ahead of the game. So sometime next year, I will launch another Kickstarter for STARSLAM 2, and it will (hopefully) be as successful as the first one! We shall see. One thing at a time.

I urge you all to jump in on this book. Join the kickstarter for Starslam by choosing your reward right HERE - It is done tomorrow night at 10pm. The perfect end to Thanksgiving!!

I want to thank everyone who their notes, RT's, pledges and kind words during the last 30 days. I especially have to toss out thanks to people like Dean Stahl, Brett Pinson and Tim Fischer, all who helped me out greatly in the production of this book. I couldn't have done it without you! Starslam started as a whim idea back in 2008. It was rejected twice at SDCC by two erotica publishers. It was a webstrip that sort of failed to get lots of readers to the site. I didn't have any way to reach out. But Kickstarter has done it for me. I have gained an audience. I hope I earn them by delivering a good book that they all enjoy! I look ahead to all the books I gotta personally sketch, sign, include commissions in and all that, and its quite overwhelming! But I am excited as hell to start on it! Thank you all!

Lets drive this baby home!

Cheers, T

The Passion of the Clerk

That is me lately. Slummin' it as a clerk at a gas station late nights. Its helping connect the dots a bit better though. But it certainly fucks with my schedule. I knew it would. But it is a necessary evil for the moment. But good news abounds lately in our home as the wife has some great things coming up for her, which sets in motion long dormant plans and dreams of ours. So I have the light at the end of the tunnel that if we both work hard now, we will emerge waaaaaaaaay better off when the time comes. So for now, I shall choke down the poo sammich I got on my plate.

Actually, its not all that bad. The job is easy enough. I get along with everyone I think. But juggling the sleep schedule and the kids can be a bit gruesome. But its all worth it in the end, I know. Just gotta keep my eyes on the prize.

Something special happened this week. My parents came up for a visit. Last January, my dad had a heart attack, stroke and was in the hospital in a coma. Although very scary and the familiar fears set in, I just knew that he would be okay. That his time just isn't up. Also, my step-mom is battling cancer, but she certainly doesn't show it. The cancer is shrinking and she's remaining extremely positive. But its hard to make an 8 hour drive to visit all of us kids with juggling tons of doctor's visits and other things they got going on, plus our hectic schedules. But this week the planets aligned and they arrived. They showered our home with gifts for the kids' upcoming birthdays and our wedding anniversary. They even watched the house for a night so the wife and I could get out alone... a rarity in our lives! We just window shopped at a couple grocery stores and then had late night breakfast like we used to do back in college. It was nice to enjoy my wife's company, alone. Another tiny gift from my parents.

We'll see them again this next week. Right now they are up visiting my brothers an hour north of me. I am going to go up there on Thursday so we can all be together for a bit. Again, a rarity for all of us to be in one place at the same time. But when my folks left here and headed up north, Gloria sent me this pic of dad:

He's smiling while talking about the visit they just had at our place. While I know the kids can be loud and money is tight here so we can't take THEM out to show them a good time, he still had great fun and was happy to have came to visit. Its indescribable what this picture means to me. It hasn't been easy for my dad this year. He's been through some hell with his own health, but now down 85 pounds. His wife is fighting cancer. And there has been some major major major drama in the family I won't get into. But one that really has to cut him beyond deep, financially and personally. I couldn't imagine dealing with it all like he is. But here he is, smiling.... just after seeing us here, and heading up to see his other kids, enjoying every second of life he has before him. I wish I had this pic back in January when he was in the hospital. To know that very soon, I'd see my dad upright and feeling good and he'd be smiling again. The back pain is not there and his worries are melting away with his joy over his family. I'm going to get this one blown up and keep it in a great place.  Its a candid photo she snapped and he didn't know it was happening. Its as genuine a shot as you can get and I won't forget it.

Meanwhile, here's some newer pics of James and Scotty:

Scott-bot starts kindergarten this year. He's making excellent progress. James is talking non-stop and we're excited about his progress as well. Its most certainly likely that he does not have autism like his brother and we get the joy of two unique journeys of life with them. Its so early in the game and I am going to enjoy the ride. I hope one day I'll have a pic of me smiling like that at almost 70 years old, reflecting on my visit with my kids like the one I got above.

But for now, I am focusing on whats before me. Getting the medical debt gone. Saving for the dream house. Finishing all my projects. Losing weight and getting mentally healthy. Its going to take a while, I know. But I am way better today than I was a month ago. I'm enjoying life and learning to smile again. The things that should anger me, simply don't anymore. I just don't care. Reconnecting with my old self... its a great thing. Hello old friend. I'm glad to see you never left. :)

This year is starting to turn itself around, thank creation. Just wait til you see whats coming from the seeds I'm planting today.....

Cheers, T

New Habits - Old Rants

I recently taught my son how to use my Mac and gave him his own side and password to log on. So every morning he gets up first thing and logs on to watch videos on Youtube and look at pics of things he likes on Google. Its been a great learning tool for him. However it ruins my old morning routine of using my own computer to check online things and start my day. I guess I have my iphone for that, until he decides to give up my beloved. But its still an adjustment and slightly annoying that I have to wait to use my own things!

Ever since starting this recent lifestyle change of eating better, I started drinking more coffee in the mornings. I sit at the kitchen table and take in a few cups while checking online stuff with my phone and just starting my day out catching up on everything. I started it around the time my dad went in the hospital. I felt it a fitting tribute because that was dad's routine. Dad would get up around 5am everyday and sit and drink a whole pot of coffee while he had the quiet time to himself at the table. He'd read his bible (back when we used to go to church... for me, that was 21 years ago) or he would break out the yellow notebook and do figures. What he was always doing with those figures is beyond me. He'd write out bills and do "What If" scenarios and figure them all out, financially. Always on yellow notepads. I use small yellow notepads everyday to make little notes in my office and write out lists. I got the habit from him. And now I got the sit at the table and drink coffee habit too. All in tribute to my dad.

He's doing much better, thankfully. I called him this morning. They say he might go home from the nursing home today. He's getting sharper everyday and seems to be well on the way to a complete recovery. Still a tad slurry here and there, but a lot better than when this all started. I'm extremely pleased with that. It was definitely scary there for a while. I'm waiting til the weather decides to remain consistent and I can trek down and see him. But I can't tell you what it meant to pick up the phone and call him for a quick casual call this morning. Just like I used to do for mom when she was alive. That's what I missed the most shortly after she died. I'd pick up the phone and start dialing and then that horrible feeling of  would set in. I'd remember she wasn't there and it was "oh yeah...she's dead." No worse feeling in the world than that. The helplessness. I just wasn't ready to feel that again. But thankfully I don't have to feel that today. Probably not for a long time to come. Cause I think my dad is gonna hang out here with me for a long time coming. It feels good to know that.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their messages, emails, calls, and more during this rough month we had. I really saw who my true friends were during this period and it meant the world to me. I took note of it all and I won't forget it. Thanks, my friends.

So here I sit today, trying out a new habit: Typing out a new blog at the kitchen table using (GULP) my wife's PC Laptop. I honestly hate it. I just don't like PCs for a plethora of reasons. I don't think this will take and stay a daily routine because I can't figure this damn thing out. Its constantly stopping and doing updates on me. I might have to save up and get a Mac laptop... just to make me feel normal. OR wait for me to get my beloved back everyday. OR get a newer Imac and give the kid the old one. That's inevitable anyway. Who knows. But for now I make do with what I got. PC or not.

The sun is out today and the snow is not as fierce. I look forward to spring because I am itching to toss a lot of crap out of this house. We got a ton of clothes and toys the kids don't use anymore and I'd love to make some room in here. I feel like moving furniture around and just making some changes for the better. New routines, new looks, new things to look at. I don't know what it is. I just feel like being a little different than my old self lately. I don't know why, but I like it!

(NOTE: As I was just typing now, this PC just shut down Firefox... so I had to re-log in and thankfully blogger saved everything I just typed. Yeah.. I HATE PC's!)

I think I am just ready for spring for more reasons than one. School is constantly cancelled and I had this bit where baby James would sleep from noon-4, and I could get work done. But with Scott's school constantly closed, my work load hasn't been getting done and stuff has been piling up. Thankfully the last couple nights I have stayed up later and got some writing done. My goal of getting the first draft of the sex store novel done by March is almost complete. I probably have a week's work of work to do on it. Then I'll edit it, add more, let some others read it and give feedback, refine again and then start pitching it to publishers. No way do I want to do this one myself unless I have no other choice. Just once I'd like the responsibility to get of me, and get my books into more stores.

(NOTE: At this point, Scotty gave me back my Mac and I have jumped from the crappy PC to my beloved. I shall type the rest of this post from there!)

AHHHHH... my old keyboard beneath my fingers and no constant interruptions! My beloved Mac! Well, as much as I am embracing change, some things I love just need to stay right the way they are! I type faster on this machine, too! If I was writing a book on that PC, you wouldn't see it until 2034!

Anyway, yes, I am progressing on the book and should have it done around the time I expect. I am hoping the rest falls into place as I need it to. Meanwhile, I am putting together the new MAYHEM book (expect a Kickstarter to launch for that soon!) and thinking ahead to what is next. I am still trying to find a way to get the files I need off these old zip discs and onto my Mac so I can reprint my old comics. I'm going to be doing more STARSLAM strips this week as well. I want all projects I have on my immediate plate done by the end of this year. My slate completely clear! (but of course I know what I want to do after that, so the slate will NEVER be clear!!!)

Progress. Change. Hey, the initials of that are P.C.! Whoa.

Okay this is the most rambling blog post ever concieved in all mankind. I better end it now and get back to actual work. Thanks for reading all of this my friends. I hope you make the progress and change in your daily lives as well. We all do. Change for the better and make the progress you know you have to make. Don't stop the train from rolling. Keep rockin' out!

Cheers, T

Riding the Waves

Hey all. Been about the same all week. Not much has changed with my dad. Ups and then downs. We're still waiting on the eventual change for the better. I'm confident it will come soon.

At home, I'm doing commissions and keeping the house clean. The wife and I got to go on a date night last night, which is a rarity for me. We met new friends at a party and had a great time. Feels good to have some time for just US once in a while. I really needed a nice night out with everything going on lately. Everyone needs to get away once in a while.

My buddy Dean Stahl tossed me some Anna Pocalypse fan art this week. Check it out:

Thanks buddy! If and when the second book gets done, it will make its way in there with the others I have for it.

I got one card set done this week and I am finishing up another. And then I think (barring some unforseen invites with some companies and properties I still trust) I am pretty much sticking with my own stuff for a while. I need to finish all my own projects and get the online store restocked and back up. It will take time, bare with me. But it will be worth it.

Watched all the Playoff games and I am excited for Superbowl 48. Broncos and Seahawks. Both of em I like. Should be a great game.

All in all, its been a week of just keeping my head above the water. One day at a time. The wife and I have quit eating fast food for a couple weeks now and she's been doing great eating veggies, rice and taking some new supplements. I started taking Vitamin B pills too. And today, I joined a gym for the first time. Now I just have to commit to keep going. I'm not going to type a big speech now about how this time its for real and all that, I am just gonna do what comes. Something new to keep my mind going. Right now all I can think about is my dad and the image in my head of him in that ICU with all those tubes and things and the suffering of a heart attack. I don't want to go through that and put my family through that either. I've had plenty of chances to cheat this week and eat fast food and I didn't. I just want to change. Thats all.

Okay, I suppose thats enough for now. Thanks for checking back folks. Despite this early hiccup of a month, its going to be a great year. And in a short 5 days, it will be my birthday. Time to start celebrating!

Cheers, T

Frayed Ends of Sanity

Hey all. Thanks for checking back. I don't have too much of good news about my dad at this point. They moved him from ICU, but then discovered bleeding in his upper stomach area and have moved him back in. More tests to run and then probably surgery I am guessing. He's not talking clearly and is in and out with talking normal and then into total nonsense. I'm just taking it as it comes at this point and just keeping my mind occupied. Come what may. I can't control it, so I am just thankful for each day that goes by with the hope that he might get better. Its all I can do.

Meanwhile, I keep myself occupied. Playing with the kids, hanging with the wife. I drew some more STARSLAM strips yesterday. Probably do more tonight. I got some commissions to do, which is good. I'm waiting on payment for a few others plus some card work I did last June (STILL not paid for that!). I finished one card set and I got another one I have to work on too. Markers need refilling, so there's that.

On writing, I haven't done too much progress as I haven't had much alone time as I would have liked to have. I've just sort of been keeping my mind occupied cleaning the house, watching old episodes of Roseanne, which I had NEVER watched before but am enjoying now. I did however sketch out a potential cover idea for the porn store book. Since I feel I owe you something for checking this out, I'll show ya:

A sort of James Bond vibe with a B&W "CLERKS" vibe I am thinking. Bright color letters for the words. Maybe. I got time to think about it. Gotta get a first draft done.

I've been talking with the boys about the final touches of the TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM book #3. Everyone will be done on time and we're going to be shooting another video for the Kickstarter for it. I have the idea already and have talked to my actor involved. Its gonna be fun to do. Probably end of the month for that.

We're fast approaching Jan. 24th, where I turn the big 36. I wish I could say that my new year has started off good but all this with my dad obviously has derailed me a bit. But I'm trying to stay on the track and keep going. For sanity's sake, mostly. Just ignoring it. To focus on the things I can control rather than be upset at the things I cannot. Just keeping up with my work, to keep the focus. I really need a couple nights of hardcore progress and production. Nothing cleans my head like a good night of getting work done. Hopefully this week. As always, I'll keep you fine folks updated.

I didn't want to bum you out and make ya'll worry about me. I'll be okay, no matter what. My chin is up and I'm rockin' and rollin.' On to the next page.

Cheers, T