Last Jedi Thoughts and Christmasy Things

Okay folks. Im ready to give my thoughts on THE LAST JEDI. Note: This blog may contain spoilers, so you are forewarned.

But before I get to my thoughts on the flick (which I KNOW you are all screaming to know... #sarcasm), I wanted to state one thing: ya’ll dont make being a fan easy. All weekend Ive seen back and forth, this and that, suck this, hate that.....we must be careful to not DEFINE OURSELVES only by the things we hate. Rather, build up things we love. And... if we are so insistant that the people in charge are fucking it all up and we can do a better job... GO DO IT. Go make something good... for yourself. Go write a better screenplay. Make it. Make a better album. Or a better book, etc. Do it. Become that child again, creating adventures with your action figures and dream of the stories in your head. Nothing can extinguish that fire inside you except you. So enjoy it or dont. Take it or leave it. Just keep yourself happy. Because the reason we even like going to these flicks is to feel like a child again. So tap into that and be that child again before the jaded, harsh world made you pull about things and look for reasons to hate it. Opinions I get, and certainly you are entitled to not like a thing. But to let it define you, time after time, and yet still you line up for the next one to fill that hate tank... don't become that person.

That said, my review simply is this: I liked it. I didn't LOVE it, I liked it. It took risks. It wasn't formulaic and it showed some balls. There were things I thought were silly and things I wanted way more of. But I don't feel like nitpicking anymore. I had a good time and that is that. And yes, I will buy a Porg. I thought they were cute. I wished Luke could have been just a smidge more bad ass in the end. I got questions about speed velocities of First Order ships and Resistance cruisers. I wished some questions I had the first time around could have been answered. But hey, there is a third one coming.... and another... and another... It will all be okay.

Watching my youngest son play Lego Star Wars on the PS4 teaches me that STAR WARS isn't just mine. Neither is Star Trek. Or anything else. Its igniting the powers and flames of his imagination now and  in turn, I'm grateful to get more and enjoy what I get. And yes, it sucks and it is sad when I see my childhood heroes age and die. But that's part of the gig, man. Take the ride or don't. But sitting there being angry with nothing to channel that energy into... I couldn't do that, man. No way.

Christmas is this coming weekend! All my gifts are wrapped and ready. This last week I did what I used to do as a kid and laid on my back and looked up into the tree. The lights dancing across the needles and decorations filled me with joy as a kid. I took a pic to remind myself of that joy I recreated. 

Luna Butt is ready for Xmas as well!

James and I made Christmas cookies together. Always important to make new memories with my boys when I can.

My day job treated us with a big holiday feast. Alfredo, beef, chicken, potatoes, beans... man it was good!

I guess the whole point of this blog is basically that its hard to be mad when so much great shit is going on. The fun and wonders of the holiday season is in me. I got all my xmas shopping done and I am thrilled with what is to come! I wish you a merry holiday weekend, my friends!

Last bit before I go, on the business end of things:

~~All THE EROTIC ZONE books are sketched in and commissions are done. Will be shipped this week, if not already by the time this goes up.

~~I penciled and inked 8 new STARSLAM 3 pages this week.

~~I scanned and touched up two PATREON exclusive stories. Things are happening, folks. We are gonna make it!!

Much love, T

Spoilers and Sickness

No April Fool's joke here today folks. I'm too tired to put effort into doing anything for it really. So read on, assured that there's no tricksies awaiting you.

Well, the kids once again prove to be a germ farm and magnet, which I cannot avoid. I NEVER got sick before I had kids, now I get it often. Scott was sick on Saturday and puked three times, then seemed okay. Sunday night, the wife had a bad stomach ache and vomited all night. I woke up Monday morning with hardcore bad stomach problems but luckily never upchucked. I hate doing that! I woke baby James up and found out he vomited in his crib during the night and it reeeeeeeked! I had to change all his sheets, obviously. So I tried to run things around here as normal, but I was in pain most of the day with it and then it developed into full on flu like symptoms. I was shaking, sweating, sore, achey all over. I tried to get as much sleep as I could and downed the Advil. Today I am feeling about 75% better and good enough to get things back to normal around here. I gotta clean the house a bit and then get Mayhem to the printer. I wanted to get it there by Friday but I was waiting on a page from one of my artists and then the kids and I got sick. Today: Back on the horse.

I wanted to touch on something right quick about "Spoilers." After the Walking Dead season finale, I saw people complaining on social media about spoilers and people posting spoilers. Here's the thing folks...

Its 2014. We live in a very NEWS NOW society and social graces is severely lacking. And you cannot change it. You cannot fix people from not being the most tactful to respect people who haven't watched a TV show or movie as quickly as you did. So I propose this bit of logic: when you know there's a major event coming up (TV, MOVIE, etc) and you aren't able to see it the time of its first appearance, avoid social media. Just avoid it. You don't NEED to log on anyway. Just avoid it til you see it and then come on and talk with like minded people about it. Yes, I label it as YOUR fault. You didn't realize that its 2014 and we are in the GOTTA HAVE IT NOW world. Also: If you have friends in your list that are repeat offenders of posting spoilers, maybe block their feed or delete them as a "friend." There are plenty of ways to avoid spoilers and I think you have no right to complain about it. Its like if you were on a diet and you purposely walk into a Mcds to smell the food and the temptation to order a 20 piece and fries is too great for you. YOU WALKED IN!!! So quit blaming others for spoilers. Take charge of your feed. Just some friendly advice because I tire of people complaining about spoilers. I wouldn't go on and start dropping spoilers to be an ass, but people do. Realize thats the world we live in and adjust accordingly.

The wife is going on vacation this week and I am looking forward to her going on kid duty for some of it so I can get some work done. Also my oldest son is coming to visit and thats always a good time. Lots going on the next two weeks. YAY!

Anyway, peace and love, have a good week, and cheers! T