Bachelor Weekend

Hey friends.

Kitty-D has been out of town since early Friday morning and so I have been solo. I've managed to keep the house clean (I even did some sorting!), I dealt with some "Thinky Pain" alone and made it to work on time. Plus spent time with the kids! On Saturday I spent some time with myself by taking a road trip to Kalamazoo. I found a few gems and the trip was nice... except for the bad drivers and construction. I had forgotten how much I dislike driving on I-94 here in Michigan. Its a road that connects Detroit with Chicago. That road is an asshole driver magnet. I can't tell you how many times I've almost died on that road. Saturday was no exception. But I'm here and I'm okay.

However, my beloved Batblazer suffered an injury:

No, I-94 didn't do this. Kitty D backed up into a cement pole. She's okay and no one was hurt, but my baby got a bit of a black eye. We got tape over it now and a new light on its way. The rest is just cosmetic. No big deal, honestly. She's survived way worse than this. And plus it gives me something I can tease D about! She feels horrible about it, but honestly its really okay. I'm just glad no one was hurt. Now, if she did this to my Corvette... different story! Heh...

I had planned to get a bunch of stuff done this week but yeah... that didn't happen. I had a big round of thinky pain and some anger to work through. I was kinda moody, honestly. And I know it will get a bit worse. I gotta adjust my sleep starting tonight to do a week of overnights at the day job. And then next weekend, I got the kids for two overnights. No rest for the wicked. Hopefully I can keep my sanity somewhat. 

Even the girls are concerned for me!!

No worries folks. I will get back on the production train soon. I am in the home stretch with so much that I almost HAVE to at this point. Just gotta break free and shake off the shit and get going. This whole week has been recuperation. Just getting my brain back into gear. Dusting the shelves, as it were... literally and mentally. Summer cleaning? Maybe. That is what D is doing up north while camping. Spending time on the water and recharging while hanging out with her closest friend. I needed to do that a few times already this year. Now I'm staring at a few months of nose to the wall, hardcore grinding so I can set everything up I need to set up. When I emerge, I hope to have the knowledge which will lead to more money and overtime at the day job. (Which helps a few financial goals I got.) I hope to get my health somewhat under control. (So far its been a runaway train!) I hope to get my projects rolling and ready to release. (Always on my mind.)

So no, I didn't do much with my bachelor weekend other than cry into a pillow for a bit, work at the day job, took a stressful (but somewhat rewarding) trip, nap, get drunk and do a long rambling podcast and then spend time with my boys. Some bachelor weekend, eh? No strip clubs for me. No hookers and blow for this guy. Just business as usual.

Now if I can get my brain to shut up, I can take a nap and regulate my sleep to prepare for a week of night shifts. Pray for me, won't you? So much to conquer, so much to finish...

Sanity, find me.

--T

Ps- Got a couple messages asking what I thought of the announcement of a female Doctor Who: I honestly don't care who or what plays the doctor, so long as the writing is good. We got way bigger things to worry about and be mad at, don't you think? Forget the distractions, keep your eyes open to the arseholes fucking us. Stay awake. Resist the bullshit. Get registered to vote and get active! 

TOOL Concert review

Hey friends!

So I finally saw TOOL for the first time in my life and it was a killer show. How could it not be, right? The opening band wasn't that good, but the show TOOL put on more than made up for it. The drinks were way overpriced, which is to be expected. But all in all, we had a good time. Pics speak louder than words, don't you think?

I always try to get a ticket for the souvenir book. I have almost 30 now I think.

D got all dressed up. She NEVER lets me take a picture of her without her doing something goofy, so this is as best as I could get. Still, she looked very pretty. Had to document that.

We decided to go to Clarkston early and try this BBQ place called "Union Woodshop." D reports that they have the best potato salad and baked mac n' cheese. My plate consisted of more unhealthy choices and pulled pork! But I ended up taking half of it home. Very delicious!

Being idiots in the garden before the show.

Can we ever just take a "nice" picture?

There were signs all around and the security was VERY adamant that there was no video or photos allowed in the venue. Therefore, I didn't chance taking any pics of audio of my own. I didn't want to get kicked out. I'm not much of a rule breaker. Besides: My iphone camera usually turns out shitty pics anyway. So here are a few shots that others took and uploaded of the show: 

AWESOME back screen light show.

Maynard (of course) sings from the back of the stage in shadow. So there he is on the left.

The highlight for me was seeing (but mostly hearing due to an obstructed view) Danny's drum solo after the intermission. He is one of my top five favorite modern drummers. I cannot find video online of the solo yet, but I'm sure some will pop up.

I did find this video of their closing song: STINKFIST and at the end of the show, Danny comes out wearing a Pistons jersey. And then Adam Jones brings out his little kid and waves to the audience. It was a rare sight to see anything slighty "human" from that band! Here's the video:



As far as anything political said, here's what Maynard had to say:

"Home. (he's from Michigan)
Anyone here from CMU? (I clap a bit) How about Wolverines? (Meaning UofM) Any Spartans out there? (meaning MSU) Spartans, how do you feel about the Wolverines? (People boo) Wolverines, how do you like the Spartans? (People boo) One common word that is missing from all those things is "Michigan." (Everyone cheers.) You see? Some common ground. Now apply that same concept to this thing called: EARTH. (everyone cheers loudly) Ignorance is the enemy."

All in all, it was a good time and I'm glad I finally got to see them. Next time I think I will bring my own alcohol in instead of paying $20 for two shot glasses full of frozen daqueri. I think we paid mostly for the big straws that came with it. But anyway, here's hoping there's a new TOOL album soon and we can relive it all again.

--T

Spring Cleaning

Hey friends!

Life returns to normal after a vacation. Back to work hardcore at the day jobs. Barely home to do things and take care of things. So it goes. But hey, life seems to be getting better overall. My attitude has been changing and I'm looking more positive now. Thank the lords for therapy, eh? I've even transitioned this attitude back into some new writing and actual Starslam 3 page work! I penciled and inked five pages this week so far! I've made some notes of what to do with my podcast after episode #500 happens. I've got some more ideas for the Vlog channel, now that some things have kind of fell through.

Point is, I'm working on it. And honestly, it feels good to be getting back to a clean mindset. When I do, it seems that I am rewarded with productive thinking. The clouds clear in my mind and I feel the spark to just get going. Get shit done! Its honestly a great relief to me to know that when things calm down, my immediate desire is to create. For a while, I was questioning that whole process.

I did decide some things for later on this year. No EXXXOTICA table for me in June. The expense is too great and I'm not even sure I'd make my money back. However, next year I will have more stuff out and maybe then it will be worthwhile. So I am putting it off until next year. I will still go as a fan this year to scope it out and see if it is a good thing to try it or not. Will be an interesting time, regardless.

Also coming up, my best friend Shane and I are getting together. You remember, why this website is named IDIOTHEAD in the first place? Its our old band name! I do plan to do some jamming and there are a couple little things I'd like his help in recording for me. Stuff for the podcast and what not. But mostly it will be good to hang with him again. We haven't much in the past few years. Last time we fully jammed was on my 30th birthday nine years ago. Then once in 2015 for about 20 minutes. Last time we did a skit tape recording was in maybe 2012. We're long overdue for reconnecting. We still email each other and text every week. But time and life has got in the way. Hoping to do some shopping for games and things too while I'm up there.

On the TALES FROM THE GORE front, I placed the order for the books and they should be arriving soon. I gave Olya her art assignments and I gotta start mine soon as well. So bare with us!

This week I will be doing some spring cleaning. Not only in our lovely small abode here in East Lansing, but also continuing sweeping the brush in my mind. I'm getting to a good place and I like it. Soon in the house we'll have a birth of some kittens. Life is feeling good. Its feeling like a treat to wake up now instead of dreading it. First thought when I wake up now is: "Alright, what can I get done today?" And that is where I need my head to be.

My last thing I want to talk about is today, March 23rd. Its a special day, that being the one year anniversary of Kitty D and I becoming a couple. Hard to imagine my life a year ago. It was a time where I just got out of a relationship and I wasn't looking for another one. But in my effort to find new friends or researching local happenings, we ran into each other. We dove into deep waters very fast. She gladly accepted my shit and I accepted hers. (We all got shit on our plates, don't you know) And over the last year we have been through a lot more shit. Moving, life, death, other stuff I won't go into. But we're still here and we've survived. She makes me laugh everyday. She cares about me everyday. She encourages my creativity and viewpoints on the world. She never makes me feel ill at ease or uncomfortable. She never belittles me or gives me shit about things. She talks deep with me and helps me off the ledge when I'm having a bad day. She forgets her problems and never SIGHS at me waiting for her turn to talk or outshine my issues. And I'm there with the back rubs, foot rubs, advice, cuddles, hugs and loves. We collect things together. We dream big together and we weather every storm that comes our way. She's passionate about helping people and animals and has dreams and a personality all her own. She has my attention, my dreams for the future and my heart forever and ever. Until the long Trek is over.

Thank you to my love, Kitty D for dealing with me and the shit storm around my life. For being great with my kids and patient with this big kid. For finding me even when my eyes were closed. For working hard for our future and believing in us as a force of nature. For helping me be a better person and believing in me. Its been one year and I know even more great things are to come. I can't wait to spend the rest of my days by your side. One year... it seems like 10. I get to wake up tomorrow with you and that is all I'll ever need. I love you, deeply and madly.

Ok. Off to clean the house and get rid of shit for the rest of this week. Coming soon: New podcasts and Starslam 3 production pics. And a new Vlog Video somewhere in there.

Luvs to you guys too,

T

Horrorhound Recap (tons of pics)

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HEYO! I'm back from a long (and very much welcome) vacation weekend to Horrorhound Cincinnati. I'm glad to report that it was a very relaxing and fun weekend. Surely what the doctor ordered. Here is a daily recap and tons of pics! Enjoy:

Wednesday, March, 15^th, 2017 – Up at 0900 hours. I write a letter to dad and then start painting on my biker jacket. I put the first coat on and it comes out looking pretty good. I drop off D and head into work for a 3-11shift that seems to drag and drag and drag! After work, Zillins, JD and I hit the BW3 for early Vacation celebration drinks and a burger. D joins us just as we are finishing up. We drive home and pass out around 2am. 

A VERY pregnant Belle, relaxing.

A nice post-work pre-vacation drink with the boys.

Thursday, March, 16^th, 2017 – I wake up around 10am, a first for me for a while!! Actually being able to sleep in for once? Can’t put a price on that! I get up and put on a second coat of paint on the biker jacket. I finish coloring a commission for a client and send it to him. He replies with his approval. I do a bunch of last minute things around the house and start packing for the weekend. D gets up and we go to stock up on the rest of our booze, food and last minute costume stuff. We get back around 5pm and finish packing up. Then around 8pm we head to Crunchies for some eats. We get right in and out, beating the crowd. We come home and I finish up the jacket, sewing on the patches and last minute paint touch ups. It came out great! I put on all the pins as well. I attempt to fall asleep at 11pm, but it doesn’t take. So I end up showering, then watching Jackass 2.5 and I finally pass out around 2am.

Lily is worried about our alcoholism.

My hand-painted biker jacket back. Painted by me! First time I've touched paints in years!

Smiley Crunchy's Burger!

Friday, March, 17^th, 2017 – Alarm blazes at 0600 hours. We brew coffee, load up the Bat Blazer and head to Mcds for breakfast. Then we hit I-96 around 7:20. We stop off in Findley, OH to use the Wifi at a Mcds to order TOOL tickets around 10am. After several attempts to refresh and score tickets, we are finally successful! We score lawn tickets for TOOL in June. Word is they sold out immediately, so we were very lucky!

We arrive at Franklin, OH around 12:30 and stop off for gas and White Castle (necessary). Then we trek another 25 miles to our hotel in Cincinnati. We wait for Jynel and Coleen to get ahold of us and they do. We end up standing right at check-in for about an hour, due to their system being down. Meanwhile, I have to poo really bad. Wonderful start to the day! All I want to do is get into my room and unwind from the 5 hour drive! I answer some texts and emails from earlier while I’m waiting. Finally their system goes back online and we check in. Our room is #703. Funny enough, last year my room was #704! Right next door to where I was last year. Unfortunately, the rooms are prearranged this year and Joe, Jynel and Coleen are stuck in the east wing. (sigh)

We get our keys and scope out our room. I finally take a nice shit and relax a little bit in the room. We then head over to the con and find 12 Gauge’s set up. We say hi to Joe and during load in I run into Raphael. Later on I run into Ron B about 10 different times. Seems he was all over the show! D and I buy a few bootleg DVDs and magnets and call it a day. We hit the con cafeteria where I opt for the personal pizza, which sucks. D gets ribs, which are awesome! I declare I will eat them the following day. We head back  and take a nap in the room, passing out to a nice Star Trek marathon on BBC America. We’re back up around 10, and the gang all come up to our room to partake of some drinks. After loading up and doing some shots, we head downstairs. Outside I finally get the face time with Coleen about everything that has happened in the past 7 months. There were plenty of hugs and tears as we all group hugged several times. We smoked cigs and cigars and just kept chugging the beers and eating several gummi bears and worms soaked in vodka. It was a therapeutic night.

After our deep discussion, I headed to the bathroom. Which I quickly realized being on my feet now, I was severely drunk! I ran into several people and chatted with them and random others, which I am sure I made an ass of myself a few times. I run into D and announce that I have to go up to the room immediately. We do and I throw up violently into the toilet and the sink. It was extreme and scary for me! I then lay my head down and pass out instantly, with Star Trek playing in the background. I don’t remember what time that was.

Lovely White Castle!

When the party hat goes on, its time to get crazy!

My girls.

The gang!

We offer thee, vodka soaked gummies and cigars!

We're all okay!

Saturday, March, 18^th, 2017 – I wake up around 0900 hours, severe hangover and dehydration going on. I chug a water that D lovingly left by my fan for me the night before. I then wandered downstairs, hungry as fuck and ate TWO plates full of hotel breakfast. Indeed, hungry as fuck. D joins me and we eat hearty. We go back up to the room and pass out for more napping in the comfy king size bed and new pillows.

We wake up around noonish and hit the hotel pool. Its empty so we got a whole hour to ourselves just to relax and swim around. The water is nice and warm and I definitely needed that relaxing dip! We get out and dry off back in the room. We relax a bit and then head over to the show. First we stop off at the food court, which is wall to wall busy as fuck! But we get our food and find an open space of real estate to eat at against the wall. We’re all then yelled at by security to not sit in the halls. But what else is an oversold crowd supposed to do when the café chairs are all full? No matter, I scarf down my ribs and potatoes and we head to the show itself. It is annoyingly busy and crowded. I end up grabbing a couple indie horror flicks, some horror comics and then hitting the Troma booth and getting a couple movies. I get Lloyd Kaufman to sign the one he directed and then get a photo with him and Toxie. Then I’m interviewed by Troma team about why I love Troma movies. I ham up the jokes and say that Lloyd and I had an affair years ago. The camera guy seemed to like my inprov.

We head back to the hotel and order some chili fries in the café which take FOREVER to arrive. Can’t say the hotel restaurant’s service is good at all. In fact, it sucked ass. I tracked the waitress down and paid our bill, then headed back to the room. We relaxed some more, watching some Riddick movie while checking out our buys. Coleen and Joe come up for their stuff at 7ish and D takes a mini nap. Then she gets up and we get ready with our costumes. She paints on my Eddie scar and I experiment with the blood needed on it. We get all dressed up, snap some pics and then head downstairs. We watch the Pickled Circus show and a bit of Hamilton’s Chump Change Variety show. We head back and refill our drinks and meet up with the gang farther down the hall. We chat with everyone and then head back outside to smoke with Coleen. After chatting out there for thirty minutes we retire back to our room to get into our PJs and order some pizza. We stay sober and just chat into the night about music, movies and memories. Then Coleen heads to bed. I hit the pillow around 1am and pass out immediately. 

 

Lloyd Kaufman and Toxie with some bum.

Not quite EDDIE, but close enough.

Costumes complete!

The gang is all here!

Lovely peach ringz!

Sunday, March, 19^th, 2017 – My alarm goes off at 0900 hours. We hit the hotel breakfast and then come back to the room to pack. I read online that Bernie Wrightson had died. I email Walters to offer condolences on his friend. We load up the car and find a close parking spot to the show. I check us out and then we walk back over to the show for my tattoo appointment. I get there and she isn’t there. She ends up showing up 30 minutes after showtime and I walk up and introduce myself. She somehow confused our scheduled time we emailed each other about and so she cannot get to me until like 3-4pm. I say that we scheduled for early Sunday and we’re taking off after that. So we talk it out and I say its fine if we wait until next year. She feels bad but it happens, I understand. Plus now I got the peace of mind knowing that if my skin shrinks during my upcoming lifestyle change, that it will look okay. I tell her to keep my deposit and she offers to do my tat for free the following year. We shake hands and agree, no harm no foul.

Off the hook from the tattoo, we head to the 12 Gauge booth to say goodbye. Joe and Jynel aren’t there, so we just chat with Coleen and D shows off her new taxidermy Bat in a Cage. We donate some money to the cancer fund for Syd, Hamilton’s girlfriend and he graciously gives us some buttons. Perfect for my new vest! We take off shortly after that to head home. We stop off for White Castle again, our last fast food meal before the big change and then drive the rest of the way home.

We get home around 6pm and the kitties great us at the door. Belle still hasn’t given birth, so we are relieved. We unpack and D plays with the cats. I update the blog and upload photos. I watch some of my new movies (Dickshark … not good. And part of Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers… so far, good!) and then pass out around 8:30. D wakes me back up around 11:30 and we watch Hush together. Then I update the online blog and end up passing back out around 2:30am. 

--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.

How I Spent My New Years

Hello friends!

Well, we've made it. We're on the other side to good ol' 2017. Where it will be all safe,no good celebrity deaths and filled with cotton candy kisses, chocolate rainbows and fluffy kittens, right? Lets hope so!

For me, I didn't have that eventful of a New Years' Eve. We had planned to go out but I ended up having to get the kids early the next day, so I just stayed at home and drank...

Jager and always a chaser. Nice!

The week before I did a nice round of overtime, but I did find some time to do some post Xmas shopping with my lottery wins....

I'll tell you, I'm not a fan of these POP figures but I saw this and I had to have it. People are saying its my gateway drug but I swear this probably will be my only one...... probably.

I got a nice stack of CDs from Replay and FBC in Lansing. Most of these I already own digitally, but I want a physical copy for my new shelf...

I used to have a shelf like this but I parted ways with it when I got rid of my CDs a few years ago. Since then I have grabbed new CDs/music DVDs here and there and haven't had a place to put them... until NOW! But man there's a lot of room for more. I guess I am going to have to go out and grab some more essentials!

My girl enjoying her Xmas present of a Sega Genesis! We also did some Wii Bowling and Harry Potter Lego.

Now that we've crossed the great barrier into the safe zone (being facetious there), its time to get into some new habits. I have started to eat and live healthier. Its going to be a very slow process and no hardcore crash diets type of thing. Its little changes, gradual changes and keeping things rolling. I'm also doing a lot of meditating and reading, as well as other things. I'm taking care of me. That's the important thing.

I am also busy on actual artworking! I'm working hard to get this horror comic/Caleb tribute book out the door. Only about 3-4 pages left to do for it plus a cover. I've given myself until end of this month to finish it but truthfully, I could have it done in a week if I wanted to. Expect a Kickstarter or something for it soon! After this book is done, its full speed ahead on Starslam 3. I did some new Pleasant Life 2 pages last week as well and who knows what else is lurking and not being talked about as much!

I also took some time this week to do some filming for the new VLOG channel! We went a few places and I shot stuff and shot lots of stuff at home to add to what I already got in the can. I got enough material now for about 4-5 Vlogs to start out with. I will launch Vlog #1 this month after I get some small shots done that I need for it. I really am enjoying the creativity of the project. Its part documentary, part home movies, part walkthrough, part comedy... I got this overall arch that I want to do over the course of this year and have planned out "episodes" of it already to wrap around things that are going to come up.

One of my main goals this year is to gather a rhythm for getting things done. I know there are obligations like family and day job that will derail some of this sometimes, but for the most part I am committed to just getting my shit done. And I am not compromising my time or attention to do it. If I have to wall myself up and give out a lot of "No's" to make it happen, so be it. I feel bad but I got commitments to answer to. Mainly to you fine folks! A promise is a promise, so let's get it done!

Anyway, enough treading water. Time to get on it! I hope you had a safe and happy new year. Let's go grab 2017 by the nuts and make it our bitch!

Cheers, T

Year End Wrap Up. Last Blog of 2016? LET'S HOPE SO!

Merry Christmas everyone! And here is my gift to you and to myself... because I am SOOOOO ready to put a goddamn button on 2016...

2016 in a nutshell....

 Here it is! My annual year end bloggy, recapping and commenting on everything from the past year. And this year was a fucking tough, tough, TOUGH one. Fucking brutal. Ranked in the top 5 personal worst of my life. But hey, we’re still here right? Before 2017 puts on its boxing gloves, lets get this over with:

2016 Year End Wrap Up…

My year condensed:  In January I woke up on the first in Grand Ledge after a late night party with Matt, Michelle and my GF at the time. We were determined to make 2016 our bitch. Little did we know that 2016 was already strapping on a huge, floppy, razor-blades glued to it SEVEN style dildo to start fucking us immediately. First three celebrity deaths were Alan Rickman, David Bowie and Glenn Frey… So it began. It was all downhill from there.

I was busy finishing up Starslam 2 to launch the Kickstarter in April. On January 24^th I turned 38. I bought a new bass guitar and amp with the intention to focus on writing some new music and maybe record an album in the summer. It never happened. It sat in my closet all year. In February I saw a Ska show with Gabriel and my GF and then we took a trip to Ann Arbor (my first time being there). I did all sorts of shopping and sight seeing. After that, my GF and I parted ways under good terms at the time. I helped pack her stuff for her to get when the lease in Grand Ledge was up. She had moved to Detroit in January.  At the end of the month was the MSU COMICS FORUM where I sold books and met Sergio Aragonies. Then we all went to Sherief’s house and drew dicks on a huge slab of paper.

In March I did the first Fantasticon Lansing and sold decently. Caleb and Joe were there and drew a bunch of dicks and had random people deliver them to me. It was great fun! Dean was set up next to me as well. Later on, I went to Horrorhound Cincinnati with Caleb, Colleen and Joe and had a blast! During this time I started chatting with a girl online and our talks got deep right away. Eventually we met and started dating. I wasn’t really looking to get into another relationship at all but it sort of happened. Her name: Danielle or as I dub her: “Kitty D.” We continued our courtship throughout the year, marking one of the only GOOD things to happen in 2016! Shortly around this time I helped Dean and Mjit move things into their storage.

In April I started collecting NES games, dropping my vinyl habit.  I later sold my collection and player in December. I also really ramped up my CD/DVD/Blu-Ray collecting. I did FCBD at Summit Comics and had fun as always. In anticipation for August, I signed a lease back in East Lansing where I was the year previous. I started boxing up everything in the apartment and getting new shit for my new place. Little did I know I wouldn’t be going there alone! I finished up Starslam and launched the Kickstarter in May. It raised over $3,800… far exceeding the first Starslam in numbers and money earned. It was one of the best moments of the year and my life. I also went to the Motor City Comic Con and sold decently, but realized I am burned out on the comic con experience, so I started thinking it might be my last one for a long while. Some disappointments abounded with the show and I just got disenfranchised about the whole affair. It was a valuable lesson learned. To end the month, I saw one of my favorite bands, GHOST, play live in Grand Rapids.

In June the Starslam 3 books came back from the printer and I got them all out the door. I took a solo trip to Saginaw/Midland/Bay City (old stomping grounds) and relived some old memories and made new ones! Then ended June by seeing ALICE IN CHAINS/GUNS N ROSES at Ford Field with my old pals Nick and Christine. In July my son Cody came and stayed with me for two weeks. We took a trip together to Carmi, Illinois to see where our family originates and to see my dad. I started another diet which didn’t take. I also began to struggle with getting artwork done. This is a pattern which would continue all year. End of July I helped Caleb’s family move into their new home.

And then August… fucking August. August 6^th Caleb passed away in a car wreck. What followed was months of depression, events to celebrate his life and raise funds for his family. My eating and depression spiraled out of control as I tried to keep my anger and life in check. The calm situation with my ex GF deteriorated and things got really heated and crazy for a while. Kitty D’s living situation also fizzled and so we decided to jump into the deep waters and move in together. We had friends come and help us move our things from Grand Ledge to East Lansing. It was a shitty move all around but we got through it. We worked hard to make the small living place our own and give it equal flair and comfort. September brought two trips to celebrate Caleb’s life. First was to Horrorhound Indianapolis where Joe raised funds for Caleb and brought in just under $3k. Kitty D loved the horror show and we decided to only do horror cons from now on. Then the next weekend we went to a Drive Inn camping weekend in Shaumberg, Indiana… a trip Caleb, Joe and I planned earlier in the year. A weekend of camping, Burlesque girls and watching horror movies at a drive in theater. It was fun but rainy and a bit depressing with Caleb not being there. But I’m glad I went.

Starting in the late summer and drifting through October/November, I was working sporatically on Starslam 3, Pleasant Life 2 and other things. Production has been spotty at best. I hired my first colorist and he was doing great things with the new Starslam pages I was doing. Andy’s work on the book so far really has given me my only spark of energy through some hard, depression filled months. In October my youngest son was hurt in a way I cannot go into, but it certainly ranks as one of the worst things to happen all year. Thus continues the spiraling depression and anger. November, Trump was elected and man, that’s a whole other blog post. Let's not even go there right now. Kitty D and I adopted a cat and named her "Lily Munster." She's a pain in the butt but brings a lot of love to our lives. Then finally December, a tree was planted at my day job in Caleb’s honor. The new job I helped Dean get ended up not working out. Christmas came and it was a frustrating visit with the kids. I came out with some great gifts and got severely drunk all weekend. 

Everything this year ended in such a down note. With the smoke clearing, we’re all left now scratching our heads thinking: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!?!

There are so many other minor things and stress I could talk about that happened throughout the year, but all of it really is just added to the big pot of "WTF 2016." It was just a bad year all around. No one I know can argue otherwise. But you know what, we made it through. We survived the storm. And who knows what 2017 will bring. There is always the puncher’s chance of some progress and happiness. I got plans and schemes to go for in the new year and things to look forward to. I hope that I get into an upward swing. I hope to continue on the path out of the darkness and into some light. So say we all.

And FUCK YOU 2016. Seriously. FUCK… YOU…

Let's get to the lists: 

Best movies:

Star Trek Beyond, Deadpool, Don’t Breathe, Eight Days a Week, Suicide Squad, Batman v. Superman, Rush: Time Stand Still, Green Room, Star Wars: Rogue One (As of press time, I haven't seen this yet but I'll likely dig it so I put it on this list).

Best albums:

Anthrax: For all Kings, Neal Morse Band: The Similitude of a Dream, Metallica: Hardwired, Ace Frehley: Origins, David Bowie: Blackstar, Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool, Leonard Cohen: You Want it Darker.

Best books I read:

Digging up Mother: Doug Stanhope, A few FAMOUS LOCATIONS books by Chris Epting, The Artist's Way: Julia Cameron, Trigger Warnings: Neil Gaiman, Invincible: Kirkman/Ottley/Walker, Jessica Jones: Bendis/Gaydos.

Best TV:

Ash v. Evil Dead, Stranger Things, Eric Andre Show, Jessica Jones, Walking Dead, Preacher, Maron, South Park.

Worst Famous Deaths:

Steve Dillon, Jack Davis, Alan Rickman, Anton Yelchin, Kenny Baker, Muhammud Ali, Robert Vaughn, Gene Wilder, Tony Burton (Rocky), Ron Glass (Firefly/Barney Miller), Leonard Cohen, Chyna, Glenn Frey, Prince, David Bowie, Alan Young, Gary Shandling, Noel Neil (Superman), George Kennedy, David Huddleston (Big Labowski), Mr. Fuji, Drummer Nick Menza, Michael Massee (The Crow), Tom Neyman (The MASTER from Manos). 

Worst Events:

Caleb’s death, My son’s abuse, Weight Gain, Bad Breakup, The election and post-election events, Depression.

Best Events:

Meeting and falling in love with Kitty D, Guns N Roses/Alice in Chains/Ghost/Reel Big Fish-Suburban Legends-Maxies, Horrorhound memories, Starslam 2’s success, Hiring a Colorist, Book Sales increasing, MSU Forum and post-show party, various con appearances, Drive Inn trip, NES Collecting, two weeks with Cody, Tri-Cities trip, Ann Arbor trip.

2017 Events to look forward to:

Diet, vacation trip, releasing new material/final material, Star Wars 8, The move back to Grand Ledge area, Joint Custody of my boys, Seeing Cody hit his Senior year in HS, maybe doing new music, Exxxotica Con and let’s hope LOTS MORE!

Okay: Goals for 2017---

1- HEALTH - Dude, gotta drop some weight. Its serious. And my mental health needs to be addressed. I'm considering a return to therapy to get some stuff out of the basement and take care of some of the new things that trip me up now. Plus, it seems all of this year I've had no consistent progress on my projects. What holds me back? Well, I'd love to find out and address it! 

2- PROJECTS - Finish them! Get them done and gone. 

3- SAVE MONEY - I got some big events coming in 2017. Trips, new car, a move late summer and taking on my kids in joint custody. So I got some things to shoot for. I'm going to continue my savings efforts and make these things happen! 

4- EVOLVE THE BUSINESS - Do something new with Idiothead.com. I'm talking getting my store revamped, do more online business, back away from commission work and as I finish all projects... move into something new. Maybe not even related to the business. Just move into doing some new type of art. I might get back into some oil painting or making music or putting together the model kits I bought many years ago and finally finishing them! Maybe do some things for just ME. Chase the whimsies and back away from the table of the business. We'll see. 

5- VLOGS - I haven't announced it yet but I plan to do bi-weekly blogs all year to celebrate my final year of my 30s. I'm using old footage, new footage, process footage, etc. Really beef up the youtube channel and make it something fun. Just to chase the idea. I've already started this and I will be annoying everyone around me in 2017 with it. Enjoy! 

Okay, thats it. Barring any major event to happen in the next few days, I'm going radio silent until the new year. I say that because even now, people like Carrie Fisher are in the hospital with health issues... it seems we may be done with this year, but this year ain't done with us. It might decide to roll us over for one last violent stabbing in our rears before it tosses a $5 bill on the bed and leaves us to cry and cope. 

Too harsh? Eh... thats my mind after surviving this year. But hey, like I said: We did survive. We're here. And we got our days ahead to get on with it. Let's just go, shall we?

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and I'll see you next year... gladly!

--T

Christmas 2016! (Tons of pics)

Hey friends! Merry holidays/Christmas!

Its been a crazy week so rather than drone on and on about it I'll let the pics do the talking!

Started off the week by hitting the Mongolian BBQ. Man is it awesome!

Back in July I made my oldest son a promise that I would get him a new gaming desktop PC. It wasn't cheap! But I got the specs and placed the order. It arrived the next day from newegg.com - He's VERY happy! I say it counts as Xmas and Bday. I'm glad he's happy!

This may shock some people but this week I sold my record player. Yup its gone! Here's the space it once filled. Why did I sell it? Well I never really had time to play it. I got more CDs now and I'm out of my vinyl phase. I'm also trying to save for a house eventually. So I made the sacrifice of it. But oh what to do with that space....

The Xmas tree is lined with presents and goodies!

Lily is ready for Xmas shipping!

The boys start opening their presents....

Kitty D made out good! With a nice new coffee mug and some new books and DVDs....

...and a Harry Potter game for her new Wii I got her earlier this month. I also got her the plug and play Sega Genesis! OVer 80 games for her to play and relive her childhood! She's very happy. I nailed Xmas!!!!

The boys' rampage continues... James got a nice tiny vacuum - cars - ramps - Paw Patrol games and more. Scotty got a lightsaber - DVDs - Darth Vader hoodie and a CLAW machine!!! (his favorite)

The boys' school had this special donation this year in their honor. They got over 40 presents waiting for them at home! That truly was awesome for them to do that. A BIG thank you to the Grand Ledge school district for this awesome gift!

While I'm glad Scotty likes the claw machine it does come with a price... its loud and he gets easily frustrated with it. You try to explain to him that he cannot have so much in it or else it wont work and he just gets angry. Hard to get an autistic child to understand that. But in the end he loves it and I'm glad I got him a good gift. He NEVER plays with toys so this was a nice first. Definitely will help with hand/eye coordination!

MY LOOT FROM KITTY D!!! For our first Xmas together she really nailed it! I got Blu-rays - Booze - Itunes cards - Art supplies - Lotto scratch offs (won $128!) - Hand lotions - MST3K car sticker - Grooming kit - Ghostbusters toys and a SiriusXM radio tuner and gift card! NICE!!!!

All in all it was a great Christmas so far. And I still got a couple days of it left! 

Merry Christmas to all who have stuck by me over the years!

--T