A Little More on the Pile...

Boy this year is off to a great stop! First off, we get the info that we now have to pay back the wife's college loans, which is a financial hit on us, considering its a slow quarter for me, Freelance-wise. Then my dad has a heart attack and all sorts of complications and is still in the hospital with possible demensia. The wife has a work irritance that will not subside over something so insignificant but because of a bitch, she's in constant fear of being let go. A couple freelance gigs I thought I'd have that would drastically help me pay for 2014 con travels and printings have fell through, putting a big question mark on all of it. I cannot afford to print anything I want or pre-pay for tables or travels. The kids have been acting out and its gotten insane. My workflow is all off now that the kid monopolizes the computer room and I get no work done during the day. Thus, I am behind on everything. The weather sucks my balls through a coffee straw (one of the coldest winters I can ever remember). And now the kicker: A couple weeks ago we noticed baby James' testes were getting swollen. I thought it was nothing but the doctor said its a sac of fluid collecting in that area. Quite common and easy to fix. Just needle in and drain. But after seeing a specialist we've determined that poor James has a chamber in his body that normally closes as the body grows, but his did not. So its leaking all sorts of stuff into this sack near his sack. Also he has a hernia. So this means hospitalization and operation. Our insurance sucks and we got a $10,000 deductible. So we gotta pay for the whole thing out of pocket, pretty much. We've looked into expanding our coverage, but its waaaaaay too much to do on our income. So we're looking into other options, like the affordable health care. We'll see. All this shit and January isn't even over!

Boy oh boy!

When you start off a new year, you have dreams of what you are going to beat and accomplish. And all this month it seems the torpedos have come at me full spread. Its really gotten to me and I am hanging by a thread at times. I'm snapping a bit and I could use a nice breather.

The good news is this: The wife and I are having a monthly date night once again. We really need it. We need to get away and explore ourselves again. Our relationship sometimes goes on autopilot while dealing with our daily lives. Also, we've both been really good at eating better and exercising. I joined a gym. I'm under calories everyday. That feels damn good. I'm pretty basic work at the moment but its a definate start. No fast food. Making better decisions. Vitamins. Working out. I feel better. My mind is more active. I have more energy. I'm not run down and tired all the time.

Also, I've kept working when I could. I've done some more Starslam strips. I scanned in all new art and done little things around the house and office that needed to be done. I deep cleaned and straighted things around that needed it. Including myself. I finished a card set. I done some commissions. I'm working. I keep at it. I keep punching back.

I am just taking each torpedo that is shot at me and letting it bounce off of me as best I can. Come what may, I know I can take it. Cause like Rocky VI said (and its one of my favorite movie quotes of all time): "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you're hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Sappy, but true. Call it a personal mantra. Whatever is knocking you down in life, fight back. Never give up the fight. Its what we're here for.

Gotta Fly Now.

T