Random Things That I Am Excited About + General Gripings and Updates

Hello friends! I haven't had a lot of free time to podcast or write a blog here for a few days. My day job schedule has been up and down with covering vacations and now new training on some new skills. I'll be doing that all summer. So far the new stuff is not hurting my brain too much and it really is helping me advance my skills and abilities in the world of graphic design to more modern industry standards. In every job I've ever had, I always strive to be a "backbone" to the place. After many places treating me like shit and asshole customers/co-workers, its a relief to be somewhere that I actually like going to, get along with everyone and I can expand my knowledge and skill set. There are problems, sure... but I rarely deal with them directly. Now I probably will a bit more, but that's okay. I think I can bring a lot to the table. In not just skills but attitude in dealing with the problems.

On the health front, diet is still at a stand-still. And my carpal tunnel is still in full swing. Its got to the point that even as I am typing here, my right hand will just randomly go numb for a few seconds and then go back to normal. I dismantled my upright art desk and got a smaller flat table to draw at. This will help things a bit. I got a brace as well and do daily hand and arm exercises. But gripping things, pulling up things with my right hand does cause pain. I guess its just something I will have to live with now. (Good thing I jerk it with my LEFT hand! TMI...)

The good news is that it doesn't seem to effect my drawing too much. This week I inked two commissions and SEVEN new pages on Starslam 3! I got back some new colored pages from Andy and once again, the dude killed it! We're becoming a well oiled train now and ramping up production on this book. I am hoping that by after summer I will have a clear picture of when we can do a Kickstarter for it. Also I am still working on Pleasant Life 2 pages (randomly) and pages for the short Patreon stories. Its all rolling along. Its a nice creative outlet for me.

--- KITTIES! ---

I'm happy to report that all three have their eyes open now and are randomly deciding to crawl out of their crib and explore. Still VERY shakey and nervous, but cute as hell! We seem to have found homes for all of them, so that is good. It will be hard to see them go.

Things from my pop-culture front:

Today, the first new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 hits Netflix. They raised a lot of cash via a Kickstarter two years ago and now here it is. Patton Oswalt plays a character too. I've been a fan since I saw the show on Comedy Central back in 1990. Then Dean loaned me his tapes back in college and I fell in love with more episodes I have never seen by that time. I now own all the first 5 seasons and random other ones. I still haven't seen EVERY episode, especially the ones from when the show went to the Sci Fi channel, but that is ok. I've seen the best and know the best. And this new guy, Jonah, I love from the Nerdist Podcast. He will do great. It premiered on Netflix today and I will spend some time this weekend and next week digging through them. Its great to know that no matter how much time passes, I can still relive my favorite stuff from the past all over again. Cause the best stuff always comes back!

I feel like I am toy crazy lately. I pretty much got all the DVDs/BluRays I want, so now I've shifted attention back to CDs, Toys and Games. I picked up another Jedi Luke last night (my favorite version of Luke Skywalker) and I'm scouring ebay for some lost gems from my youth. Mostly window shopping for now. Cannot go too crazy with money right now. But I'm always on the lookout for CD special editions of my favorite albums as well. And on the video game front, there will be a cool Disney collection coming next week which will have a copy of DUCK TAILS 2 on it! (Rare to get on the NES) Unfortunately, I was dealt the harsh news that Nintendo is halting production on the NES CLASSIC... I never got one unfortunately. They went on sale in Nov 2016, and scalpers scoop them up in stores for $60 and flip them on ebay for stupid money. Now they will go even higher. I am VERY resistant to their bullshit so fuck it, I will just go buy all the cartridges for those classic games for my NES. Might as well, since I'm spending the same amount of cash. But then I am also investing in my collection and not some asshole's pockets. I scored a few random gems on my recent trip to Midland/Saginaw and that has me hyped up for some gaming.

I just learned that Trainspotting 2 is finally in Lansing! So I will go see that maybe this weekend. Necessary. Been waiting to see this flick for a while now.

I'm planning a trip to go see my dad in May. Then I will be back in Illinois (Chicago area) in June for Exxxotica Con. So, exciting things are on the horizon. Right now its just the daily grind to get through and the worries over my car randomly acting up. I drive it across town every day, sometimes twice. That gets hard on a 20 year old vehicle. I hope the thing its doing now isn't too expensive. :(

Anyway, just thought I'd give a general update on everything in my world. Much love to you all!

--T

Oddz and Endz

Hey friends. New VLOG is up! Check it out:



We're less than 24 hours away from the end of the Caleb tribute horror comic, my new project! This will NOT be available in my online store here after its over, so this is your only chance to get it from me. Clicky Click Click HERE

I did some more work on Starslam 3 this past week. I think that is the next major thing on my plate, along with one of the novels. Once I get a couple commissions out of the way, I'll go full steam on it and the commissions for the TALES books. March/April will be busy times!

For those in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I will be at Horrorhound Weekend March 17-19th. Stop by the 12 Gauge Gore booth to ask them where I am. I'll be wandering all over. Come party with us!

For those in Chicago, I will be at Exxxotica June 23-25th (I believe that is the dates). Mark your calendars!

Other than that I am trying to stay sane on a ton of overtime at the day job, lack of sleep and just getting through the day stress. I start therapy again today, so that might help. Just clearing some stuff in the basement. Nothing to worry about.

Anyway, thanks for checking back with me. I love you guys.

--T

Refining

Oi fellow Mac N Cheese eaters and those who don't eat Mac N Cheese. I think that covers everyone, right?

Busy, is an understatement. I've got a lot going and man, I need a vacation. Its getting fucking brutal. Starting off with everything Kickstarter related. Right now, it stands at over $1,200. Almost TRIPLE what we asked for! Only a handful of days left so act quick! Note: The TALES FROM THE GORE book WILL NOT be available in my online store after the Kickstarter ends. So this is pretty much the only way to get it from me. I will not have any copies to sell you. If you track down 12 Gauge Gore at a horror show, you could find one. But from me? Nope. This is the only way. Don't be left out in the cold! Pledge and support the Kickstarter for my new book right HERE - Only Three days left!!

I got the proof copy of the book from the printer this weekend. It looks great! Check it out:

Where I won't have this book in my online store, I still have my other books. I sold a Pleasant Life today even! Here's a sketch the lucky person got when they ordered the book. Thanks a lot to all who continue to support my stuff! 

I always love drawin' the boys. I miss them. Hopefully I can get STARSLAM 3 done so I can continue their adventures!

After the Kickstarter ends, Olya and I will be busy with your commissions and then once the books are here, we got books to do sketches in! So we will be busy all March and part of April getting these things done. I haven't spoken to her but we are all thrilled with how well the Kickstarter for Caleb's book is doing. Thanks everyone who has pledged and supported! It means more than you know. This is not just any other book I've done. It represents so much more.

Well, I registered my hotel so now I am 100% locked in for Chicago Exxxotica in June. More on that later. I am also sooooooo ready for a vacation!!! I'll be taking next month to Horrorhound Cincinnati. We will have limited copies of the TALES FROM THE GORE at the 12 Gauge Gore booth but mostly its time for me to walk around and enjoy myself. Its also my girlfriend and I's one year anniversary at the show! Interestingly enough, I put my deposit down for my first tattoo that I will be getting at the show! Its a Caleb tribute piece I've been talking about doing for months now and I chose the right person and place to do it, I think. Its about time I get some ink on this old body. Looking forward to the trip. I'll have plenty of pics and video to share when I come back. Less than a month away! I need it!!!

I really have been running around ragged lately. Overtime, job, artworking, kids, cats, etc. Its been crazy. Right now, one of our fur babies, Belle, is severely sick and we gotta take her in tomorrow to get looked at. I hope its nothing too serious. Even though they fight, I think Lily is a bit upset at her friend being sick:

This weekend I was able to do some inking on Starslam 3 pages. I also refined the script a bit, adding some new elements and deleting some others. I basically streamlined it and got rid of some stuff that I didn't think was working. I think now its much tighter and makes way more sense. I'm still 50 pages in but I got my next 30 plotted out. I'll pull reference and start pencils this week. I should have a batch this week to toss to Andy for coloring as well. Might as well get this baby out the door while I got the fire to get to rolling.

I also have commissions to work on and a few other things on the TO DO list. But I'm still rockin' it. Not much else to say. Just get it done. Do what I can. Make it happen. The nice weather this week has been a welcome bonus to my day too. Helps remind me that the sun is still willing to welcome me to a new day of trying. I'm busy refining my work and my life approach. Its not an overnight thing. More a lifelong thing.

Cheers, T

No Rest for the Insanity

Welcome back my friends.

I hope the talking heads in politics are keeping you angry and distracted from the absolute corrupt bullshit that is going on behind the scenes. Pay no attention to the white rich men behind the curtain and nevermind that they are not using lube while they fuck you. But when the smoke clears, they will take what they will have wanted and leave you pissed and blaming the next guy... or better yet, each other!

Oh well, let's leave the madness behind as it recommended and almost mandatory to do so. Let's focus on what we're doing here. We're distracting ourselves making art. It's a worthy cause.

This week, I finally, finally, finally, finally, fina-fucking-ly finished a new book. Its a 24 page book called "TALES FROM THE GORE," whose Kickstarter is close to double what we wanted to raise for it. So far, its holding the line just above $900, which isn't bad. But I'd love to see it keep climbing. We've got about a week left on it and I want to sell as many books for it as we can. So here I am offering you an exclusive look at the first page. It features our buddy Caleb as our horror host, introducing the stories inside. Check it:

I gotta say, I'm damn proud of this book. It really was like pulling teeth for me to get it done (in more ways than one). But I kept my promise and here it is. You can pre-order it by going to our Kickstarter right HERE - To draw my friend in these pages and give him dialog was a weird experience. To me, there was a lot riding on it. You want to do a good job on something like this. I hope I did alright by you guys and by him.

I miss him everyday.

Speaking of comics: This coming month is the 10th Annual MSU COMICS FORUM. I was offered a table at the show but I declined. So please note I will not be there this year. I wish them all the best and you all should still try to make it out to the show.

I really haven't had much time to myself to get anything done, nor even attempt a relaxing day. I took this past Monday off in the hopes that I could spend time with my girl, Kitty D. We NEVER have a day off together. And with having the boys two weekends in a row, a pile on my TO DO list, I knew we needed just one day together. So we both had the day off. It all lined up. One rare calm in the storm of our lives.

And what happens? We both get the flu.

It started with some stomach issues. Then repeated trips to the sink and toilet, unable to keep food down. Then it developed into full on aches and chills. I spent all day in bed and her on the couch. As we passed each other in our weakened state, we'd help the other one out with what they were too sick to get on their own. We cared for each other. I guess that is the best we can muster on our only day off. So close, yet so far apart. Angry and tired, sick and in love. We tried to keep our sanity as well as some sort of nourishment in our corrupt virus infected bellies.

We attempt sanity weekly. We're both fighting battles. Everyday, outside people, places and things come and try to take us down. But we keep fighting, together. We got each others backs. We have 100% trust and loyalty to each other. We text constantly. I hate texting. But I do it for her.

We get as close as we can to each other.
We give each other space.
We get together everyday for talking and cuddling.
We dream about the future and enjoy as much of our present together as we can.

In short. We're happy. Very happy. And we've been fighting alongside each other and happy while doing it since the day we met, one year ago this coming late March. So Happy Valentines Day/Early Anniversary day to my love. I am finally completed in knowing you and how you treat me, and let me be me. Here's to many more happy years together.

Mushy stuff aside now---

So now that Tales from the Gore is in the can, I'm thinking about what is next. Novel? or Starslam 3? Probably both. On days where I feel like drawing (rare anymore), I will work on Starslam. On days where I am writing, I will work on one of the two main books I have almost finished. I hope to have some major progress on one or both of these projects by the summer. I also have work to do for the upcoming Exxxotica Expo in June. Perhaps some pinup prints or a special erotica comic collection. I also have the Vlog channel and Podcast to attend to. New episodes will be up very soon. The work continues.

 There are so many tiny things on my TO DO list of life. I gotta keep plugging away, checking them off one by one. Painfully slow. Excruciatingly dull and tasteless as it can be sometimes. But I'm getting through it. If anything the progress on "Tales" has brought me this week, is that I still can make it happen when I absolutely have to...

...and want to.

--T


One note on the blog here: I had to alter the blog comments posting rules. I think you have to be a registered user, not anonymous and I think I have to approve it before it posts. I didn't want to have to do that but it keeps undesirables and spammers away. Apologies to anyone this effects. I know I have many regular readers and posters that love to come here and comment to me. If you wish to contact me, the best way is via email at: phymns@yahoo.com - Thanks.