Kickin' Ass and Chewing Bubblegum

...and I'm all out of bubblegum.

This month or so, I settled into a nice groove of daily work. I work in the morning after Scotty gets on the bus, then during James' naptime and then at night when the kids are asleep. Maybe a total of 8 hour work days at home. Feels extremely good to be back into a nice pattern of work. I've got so much done in the last couple weeks. Starslam pages are almost fully colored and ready to do word balloons. I finished coloring and resizing my con prints (new and some old), I started drawing a new pinup book for con season 2015 and I designed a new table layout. Also I am busy on a major card set for one of the big companies. I signed two contracts to do two more, so now I am on a total of FIVE card sets throughout the winter. I am going to be busy as fukkkkk.

I cannot tell you how good it feels to be in this groove. Over the summer as you well know, I was majorly derailed by depression, health and stress of everything around me. So much so, I wasn't even finding joy in doing artwork or anything creative anymore. I got to a very low and dark place. But I recognized this and got off the speed train for a bit to regroup. I wanted to see what it all meant for me now. Luckily, the feelings I was having dissolved and on the other side of the thinning fog in my brain I found that I still had the will and know-how to work again. I simply just lost my zeal for it all. I think what zapped me back into reality was writing a new PLEASANT LIFE script. I knew that I was going to do another book, but I need to clear the path to get to it. So one by one I started chipping away at the frozen ice wall of work I have to get done to get there. I am still a ways away, but I will get there. And as I drill down, I will release new stuff that I am just as excited about. Starslam (finally), Anna 2 (FINALLY), Card Sets, Pinup book and a few other things. And somewhere in there will be my porn store autobiography thingie.

Its not a struggle to sit down and get work done anymore. In fact, I look forward to it. Maybe I feel so great cause my health is coming back into order. I am down 35 pounds. I'm off soda completely for months now. I've even dropped caffeine. I went to a doctor and got a checkup (long overdue). My stats looks great. The dizziness I was experiencing has stopped. Maybe a side effect of dropping caffeine or something else, I have no idea. But glad its gone and I feel normal again. I'm just in a real good place and riding the wave again.

I put my notice in at my night job earlier this week. I don't really need the job anymore now that the wife makes more money at her new position and company. Also my freelance work is picking up. The job itself is fine, but adjusting my sleep and sleeping my days off away really sucks. The wife and I have barely seen each other and when I am dog tired, I am angry and snapping at everything and everyone. Not good. Throws my system out of whack. Also, some of the people I deal with are not a good or positive thing to be around. A lot of negativity sometimes. Not as seedy as some other jobs I've had, but just annoyingly angry and bitchy all the time. I have to cut off things that do not serve me. I thought tonight would be my last night but the new person they hired quit abruptly and now I am sort of stuck actually finishing out my two weeks, depending on wife's schedule.  So it goes, but I'll get through it. And when I do, full speed ahead on my REAL JOB!

What I've got coming up in the near future is the launch of the STARSLAM Kickstarter. Its likely the last Kickstarter I'll do for a while as I want to focus on some other funding sources and ideas. then I will have a local signing here in Lansing that we are working the details out on. Other than that, its just getting stuff done and paying off bills. Then saving money for 2015 convention travels. I really want to get back out on the road again. I miss it. I need to get out there again. But I want to bring a ton of shit to show with me. I'll show you all how busy I've been.

Very soon...

In other news, during my downtime I have been enjoying The Munsters on Netflix. I am really in love with that series. Also I got Marc Maron's book "Attempting Normal," which I am enjoying. I'm about halfway through it. Then I got Sean Yseult's White Zombie book next. All great shit!

Anyway folks, no worries. I'm in a good place now and back in the groove. Now go forth and kick some ass of your own! 

Luvs, T

New Store Signing and a Busy Week

Hey all, guess what? I'm getting out of my nerd cave for a day and doing a store signing! There is a new comic shop in west Lansing, Michigan called RED FOX COMICS. 723 Brookside Drive
Lansing, MI 48917. I will be there on Saturday Aug. 30th from 11-4pm or so.

I will be selling my books, prints, cards, art and doing free sketches for kids the whole time. I'm excited to get out of the house for once and help a new comic shop open up to some potential new customers. Help spread the word and come on out on Saturday. I hope to have a fun time with some nice amount of traffic at the event. Details on the comic shop, hit their website right HERE

____

I finally saw Guardians of the Galaxy last night in the theater. I never go to the movies for a variety of reasons but I am glad I saw the flick. Good fun. I honestly knew nothing about the characters or the comics going in, so I really had to expectations for it. But it was good fun and I'd recommend checking it out. But I think next time I do hit the movies, I'm going to wait until week three or four... because all the stigmas that happened with me going to the movies happened and it crowded my experience a bit. Last flick I saw in the theater before this was Man of Steel. Yeah, thats how frequently I go to the movies. Cause people just seem to be getting increasingly rude to other patrons in public. And movies are such a religious experience for me, that I never want my experience tainted, like it sort of was last night. But oh well. At least the flick made up for it.

____

I got another four shift week at the night job so it will be quite busy. I'm falling behind on doing these Marvel Sketch Cards. However I did scan all the Starslam art and digitally clean up the lines and spots here and there. I hope to toss colors on soon. The wife starts a new job on sept 8th and she will be gone out of town most of the time, Monday-Friday for six weeks. Scotty will be back in school, so my days will be free and my nights will be boring. And when I am bored, I get work done. So I plan to really get productive so I am not concentrating on missing my wife while she's gone. And then on weekends, she'll be back and I'll be working. It will be a juggle, but worth it when its all over. But when is life not a juggle?

The good news is we are catching up with bills and shit is finally getting paid. Just a bit more hard work and we'll be back to where we were before this year began. Then we can start tackling the big picture. The big goals! Those are the days worth living for.

So anyway, make some plans to be in Lansing on August 30th. I'll be at Red Fox Comics, next to Kohls, Kroger and the Outback Steakhouse. Its gonna be great!

Cheers, T

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY plans - May 3rd

Hey folks! I will be at CLEMS COMICS in DOWNTOWN LANSING, MI for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. I'll be there from 11am-? and some of my pals will be there as well. I will have my books, prints, cards, art and more. I will be doing free sketches for kids 12 and under. I will be taking commissions at the show but to be honest, it will be VERY busy there! So its best to order your commission ahead of time and pick it up at the show.

Prices are 8x11 for $20, 11x17 for $40, add $10 for color to the price. If you need a piece done and want to pick it up at the show, EMAIL ME HERE and lets get it taken care of ahead of time. Because with all the sketches for the kids, time gets limited. So please, hit me up beforehand.

Make plans to come out and see us and get free reads for yourself and the kids! Plus the store is having deals. Costume contest, giveaways and more! Details are right HERE - Its a fun day, come check it out.

See ya there!

T

Hectic Xmas Week!

Holy crap what a week! We had a major ice storm here in Central Michigan and we lost power for about three days. Had to stay in a hotel. Over 40,000 people in the Lansing area were without power. It was a madhouse, apocolypse of a town. We almost started wearing football gear and hoarding gasoline. But now power is back on, Christmas was back on and we had a blast. 

Anyway, here's some pics of our week.

Here is a bush in our front lawn, encased in thick ice. EVERYTHING outside has suffered the same fate. It was absolute anarchy outside. Walking ten feet without slipping was a miracle.

I went to Walmart early in a fruitless attempt to get a propane heater, some candles and flashlights. The shelves were bare. I had a pic of the empty flashlight shelves but it got deleted.

We ended up staying in two different hotels. Here's James starting to destroy the second one, by ripping up kleenex all over the floor.

Power came back on early Xmas eve and so we got to celebrate Christmas morning at home. Here's the bots opening a present.

After we had our xmas at home, we drove to Detroit to have Christmas with the boys' Grandparents. They showered us all with huge gifts and a great dinner. We had a great time!

We barely got home with all the toys the boys got from Grandma and Grandpa. Insane!

So all is better now. Life returning to normal. If anyone is waiting on a package from me, it will be mailed out no later than tomorrow. Thanks for baring with me. Its been one hell of a busy week. And despite our worries of our house getting cold and us worrying about the cats and how they would make it, they came out alive. Only casualty: One fish. Our poor algae eater didn't make it cause their water got cold. Poor guy.

But I count my blessings. We got lucky. Some only got their power back this morning. It was a complete nightmare. And some of you who listen to my podcast will know that an ex co-worker of mine got in a really bad car accident and is going through some major surgeries in the hospital all this week. Thank God the drunk drivers who smashed into her were caught and will face justice. All her friends are banding together and sending her positive thoughts at this time. I guess the lesson for all of us is: count your blessings. Crap happens without notice every day. Enjoy the good times and prepare for the bad times if you can. But in the end, it all comes out okay and we become stronger people for it. Get close with your friends and loved ones. Thats what the holidays are all about.

Much love to you my friends, T