New Stuff Abounds!

Hey friends.

No deep thoughts today. Just got THE EROTIC ZONE comics back from Greko Printing and once again they have done a bang up job!!

No greater feeling than seeing the final product of your months and maybe years of hard work!

Im busy doing sketches and finishing up the commissions for all the orders. Some books have already gone out and I am shipping more this week. Keep your eyes peeled for them!

Life at the homestead is kind of quiet now that Thanksgiving is over and our Xmas shopping is done. We got the tree up and the cats are relaxing as usual:

Such a tough life....

Behold its majesty!!

In a more personal note, I had to say goodbye to an old friend this past week. That being the Bat Blazer:

Some of you might recall THIS OLD BLOG POST from two years ago where I drove to Illinois and got this vehicle. I got it with 104,000 miles on it and it got up to 139,000 miles. I replaced the starter last year and this year, it suddenly started acting up. Bubbling behind the dashboard (coolant issue) and serious revving and slowing (transmission). It was acting up big time. I did not dare drive it too far when I could avoid it. But driving all the way to work or out to get my kids is a 22 to 25 minute drive there and 22 to 25 minutes back. It certainly wore it down. And this last Friday when my GF attempted to head to work in it, it went south on her and pretty much gave up. And when she got it back to our parking lot, the back passenger tire popped and now its flat. She basically limped home one last time before passing out on us. My brother is going to claim the car now and use it for parts for his own Blazer.

The 1996 Chevy Bat Blazer and I have been through a lot. Two trips to Illinois, some to Detroit, all over Lansing many times, to Owosso, to Cincinnati twice, to Indianapolis Horrorhound, to a drive in outside of Indianapolis and more. Ive slept inside the car many times on trips and we bonded closely, as I do with all my cars. But this guy was special. He was older, wore out and not super pretty at times to deal with. It had all sorts of tiny problems like no cruise control, At the end the reverse did not work, radio didn't work until I replaced it, steering column was tilted, windows sometimes would not roll up, no AC in the summer, rips in the seats... but it got me where I needed to go and through some major transitions my like has taken me the last couple years, it got me through. I am honestly sad to see it go.

Luckily before Friday, I got this:

I could feel my Blazer going. I was nervous as hell about it breaking down and being stranded somewhere. I would talk myself out of doing even simple errands around town because I felt so limited and scared about the car breaking down. So I decided I needed to embrace a change and go for the best my money could take me to. Luckily my credit score has been climbing good enough that I got a car loan at a local dealer and got a new Chevy Equinox. Its a silver/gold type of color. Ive named it the PONY. (Stay gold, pony boy) Its got all the bells and whistles. Things I have taken for granted like AC, working seats, satellite radio and tons of room. Its masterfully safe and even gives me a camera to back up when I reverse. It will take us where we need to go safely and securely. We are already planning our vacation for next year with it. And I got a couple of my own I want to do. I now feel safe enough to attempt it.

I also feel strong enough to say that my hard work over the years has lead me to this point. I coulda got something cheaper, older and simpler. But this time, I wanted to go all out and get something really nice. I never get anything flashy for myself. Im pretty simple by nature. I am always talking myself out of the finer things. On this, I decided to embrace the WHY NOT and just go for it. Im happy to have done so. It feels good to step back and say YEAH, YOU EARNED THIS... and mean it. Metaphorically and financially.

But my plan is to pay this sucker off quick and really fast track my credit back to where it should be at my age. It will certainly give me a leg up with what I want to do in the future. I'm excited and now I'm literally enjoying the ride. Feels good to allow myself to enjoy something again. Ive spent way too much time feeling unworthy and beating myself up for stupid things. This time, I say FUCK IT. Enjoy it.

And I am.

Okay, lastly... I got some new pages from Andy my colorist for STARSLAM 3. I am now going to share some of these spoiler free SFW images. We are back to work on it! Enjoy:

Not much else is new with me beyond that. I bought my friends old acoustic guitar. I gotta clean and restring it but after STARSLAM 3 is done, I plan to maybe break it out and do some song writing again. I would like to anyway. I'm just chasing whimsies here, folks. Better than being depressed the fuck out all the time!!

Okay, back to work with me. I have a ton of things to do and get out the door. Thanks for reading!!

~~T

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Gobble Gobble my friends.

This year for Thanksgiving we are spending the day at my GFs parents, eating hearty, watching the Lions lose, and being merry. Then Fri through Saturday its back home for busy time. Except I have to work. I also gotta finish these cards like THIS WEEKEND in order to meet deadline. I got about 25 left to pencil/ink and about 60 to color. Ill make it, no problem. There is so many other things to do. I got a TO DO list a mile and 3/4ths long. I got some anger about some things going on, but also a lot of excitement as well. Nothing I want to spoil quite yet but things are about to get crazy here in Talleyland.

Its been a busy few weeks and last night, mentally, I kinda went to the zoo. I lost my mind about some stuff going on. I just simply lost it with anger and the stress of everything Ive been drifting through lately boiled over. But I did not drink, I did not cry. I just rolled through it. I got home and watched some Curb Your Enthusiasm and went to sleep. This morning I am better and ready to let it roll off my shoulders.

All I can have this morning is gratitude. Things I am thankful for. Like having a good job, my bills are all paid thanks to my hard work, loving and supportive fans around the world, a great relationship, great kids, any toy or cd/dvd/record I could want, etc. I could list them all but Ill just keep the good thoughts internal so they fight off all the bad think pain thoughts. So much great stuff is coming. So much... I truly feel like its going to be okay and everything I am working so damn hard for is going to come to fruition. Some major hurdles are about to be jumped over and kicked to the ground. Positive things are happening. Stuff that makes me excited to make it happen and enjoy the experience while it lasts!

And that is just in my personal life. In my professional life, at the day job Im about a NOIINE (Stern show reference) and in my second job, Im quickly approaching a personal TEN! I pencilled and inked two short stories for the Patreon page. I am getting these new sketch cards out the door. I am finally ramped up and better at consistency at getting things done. I ordered the books for the new Kickstarter and I am doing commissions and sketches for it. Everything Ive had on hold is now starting to come together. Its an exciting time.

When I think of these things, this greatness to come (personally and professionally), it is hard to dwell in the anger that derailed me last night. I am ashamed I let it get to me. Because in the end, it really does not matter. The only thing that matters is how I feel about things and my efforts to make things in my life happen. And right now, things are going great. You will see some of the positive stuff coming my way very soon.

Anyway, how about some pics?

We started XMAS shopping early. Lily Munster always likes the boxes we bring in.

Lilly and Luna Butt, sitting in a tree....

My one relaxing time the last few weeks was another Nintendo get together. I got to beat Kung Fu, TMNT 4 and played a few others. Always important to let loose and party like the old, old men that we are... Do we slay hookers and slam some blow and booze? No... we slam simple beers and play 30 year old video games. Look out ladies, HOT!!!

I am putting it all together. I am keeping it all together. In 2018, we shall all reap the results!

Happy Holiday to those who celebrate. May your turkeys be tasty and your taters be fluffy. I know mine will be.

~~T

Remembering Adam West (and other things)

Hey friends. Been a busy week as always. My sleep is all jacked up again but I think I've finally got myself in a nice routine... but that won't last, of course. I'm just so uncoordinated and cloudy lately. I fell at work this week. Just was bending over to pick something up, lost my footing somehow and tumbled backward into a hard wall. I got a big bruise on my head and my arm:

Ouchie!

There were fears of a concussion... but my big ol' head took the most of the impact and I came out fine. I might not remember the piano lessons anymore, but that's okay.

It is HOT here in Michigan! Monday it was 92 degrees! I've been sitting in ball soup everyday. Its causing heat rashes under my huge belly. (But I'm down 14 pounds now!) But even the cats are feeling the heat:

I was blessed by the art gods of a not so sore hand when I attempted to draw this week. I was able to squeeze five new Starslam pages out! I think I found a good way to work that isn't so taxing on my hand, and that is to work smaller. Instead of 10x15, I do the pages on 10x6.5. For some pics and scenes I'll go bigger but its helping me cut my workload down a bit. Last week I got 8 pages in on the other erotica project. About 15 more and that is done. Then I just gotta color/balloon all of it and then assemble it together. Home stretch, right? I keep getting newly colored pages back from Andy as well. I'm so thrilled with his coloring choices on the pages I give him. He sees things I didn't think about doing. For example:

I didn't think to make the floor a wooden one, or to add mirrors in the background! And leaving him the choices to make on what colors something should be is such a treat to get back and see! Its like reading a comic I didn't draw!

And speaking of STARSLAM, if you go back in my Twitter page a week or so, you'll see some exclusive NSFW Starslam pages I teased. Warning: SPOILERS! (and boobs, dicks and other things)

I'm having a rough week as far as "thinky pain" as I call it. Just random depression hitting me and then I go back up the slope and I'm okay again. I'm trying to keep myself distracted but just life and exhaustion and the heat start to take its toll. I was reading today about an artist I'm familiar with whose liver is failing and its likely he won't make it to Christmas. I wasn't this guy's biggest fan for a few reasons, but it makes me feel sad for him and his family. No one should have to go through the things he is going through with that and other health shit going on. My friend Anna was re-approved for her Kidney Transplant surgery. I know she goes through a lot as well. Everywhere I turn there is good news/bad news. But sometimes it comes back around to good again. It helps me keep a smile on and gives me hope.

However, this last weekend was some bad news:

The exclusive ADAM CLUB lost our president. A devastating loss to my personal pop culture world. When I was a kid, BATMAN became a big thing in 1989 with the upcoming release of the Tim Burton movie. Before it came out in the summer, Nick at Nite started running Batman 1960's TV Show marathons and that is where I first got my taste of Adam. I loved the show as a kid and that is where my love with The Riddler came from. I got to meet Frank Gorshin later in life before he died. I never got to meet Adam. I was near him a couple times when I was at shows, but I never bothered to get in line and get something signed. I think back again to when I was a kid and that spring/summer of 1989. My mom rented BATMAN THE MOVIE (60s, again) and taped it onto Betamax for me. I would come home from school and fry up some home made potato wedges and watch the movie. I must have watched that movie 50 times that year and into the 1990s. It was one of my first cheap Blu-ray purchases. I can recite the whole thing. Recently they FINALLY released the series on DVD/BR... I haven't bought it yet. Just been busy and don't have time to really sit down for it. As an adult it reads campy and farcical. But still, I should take the time to do it. It was my era of TV. STAR TREK was on Tv. As well as LOST IN SPACE and GET SMART.

Years later, I would enjoy Adam in random B/D movies like "Maxium Xul" or "The Happy Hooker." And then he popped up on this little cartoon I got into called "Family Guy." Everytime he was on screen in that show he was a hoot. A whole new generation was being turned onto him and his unique humor. I loved it. I haven't kept up with the show every much lately, but maybe I will trek back and see what new things he did on there.

This one sucks. I know within the next ten years a lot of my heroes will most likely be going too. Favorite actors, childhood heroes, favorite musicians... I'm getting to that age. It sucks. But at least they all leave behind a body of work to be loved and cherished for all time. And I'm thankful I got to live at the same time as some of these people. Its an amazing time to be alive and I wouldn't trade it for any other era. And before I climb the bat-rope to the heavens myself, I will sit back and enjoy what they leave behind. Thank you Mr. Mayor, Mr. West, Mr. Wayne, Batman, Adam We... You will be greatly missed.

Okay, barring any major things to happen, I'm going to get back to work. I might be quieter than usual and that is because I'm trying to beat a deadline here. I will come back soon with some great stuff to share. In my silence don't think I'm not doing anything... I'm doing plenty!

Cheers, T

VLOG 3 is Live!

New VLOG has been uploaded! See behind the scenes making of "TALES FROM THE GORE" comic, cat craziness and shark slippers! Enjoy!

--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

Milestones

Hello friends!

Well, the Kickstarter for TALES FROM THE GORE, my Caleb Stevens horror anthology tribute book went live yesterday and I'm proud to say it was funded in less than 12 hours. This marks the third Kickstarter in a row for me to do that. I'm beyond thrilled about it and how people are jazzed about it! We're even doing some exclusive copies to be sold at the SALT CITY HORROR FEST In Syracuse, NY on April 15-16th. Some will be sold and some will be raffled off along with some other goodies I am tossing to them. For details on that horror show, check out their Facebook link HERE
-- There will be some cool guests there, dealers and movies on 35mm playing. The people that run that show are good people. Check them out.

Meanwhile, the Kickstarter rolls on! You can learn the ins and outs about the kickstarter and stories behind its making and why it means so much, by checking out the new episode of the IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST by clicking HERE

Lastly, you can check out the actual Kickstarter fundraiser for my new book: TALES FROM THE GORE by clicking HERE

_______________________________________________

Whew, now that is out of the way. We can talk about other stuff going on.

I'm still in heavy overtime mode at the day job. And with me juggling commissions, Kickstarter launches and more book production, I really haven't had much time to breathe or do anything really. My PS4 just sits there collecting dust. Plus we're adjusting to life with our new baby:

We decided to name her "BELLE" after the character in "Secret Life of a Call Girl."

Lily and Belle don't get along super well, but they are adjusting.

Between work and all this production, I really am just burning my candle at all ends. Even the middle! I got my boys the next two weekends and so that will be a handful of a different sort.  I decided after this weekend to take an extra day off just for me to unwind, spend time with Kitty D and just be still for a moment.While it feels good to make things happen and get things done, inside I'm just screaming for the train to slow down for a minute! The stress and the overall run run run life gets to me. Its something to talk about in my therapy sessions, for sure. I need to make those more of a priority very soon.

I discovered a new hobby, that of perler beading old 8-bit NES game sprites and things. But I haven't had much time to devote to it. But one night last week, I took a few hours and just sat and did it. It was great to turn my mind off and just put beads into a rack and make things. It reminds me of putting together legos, but way less expensive! These are the things I made the other night:

I like the hobby and will continue it. I feel like it centers me a bit. Hopefully after the rush of the Kickstarter is done, I can indulge a bit more and do other things I want to do with the perler beads.

Next month is Horrorhound Weekend. I've already booked my hotel and I'm excited as shit. If all goes well, I'll be getting my first tattoo there. Its a tribute piece I thought up for Caleb. Of course I will take pics and videos there for my VLOG and BLOG here. No worries. And a trip away will be nice. Because after that, things are going to ramp up with heavy production on my remaining projects, as well as new challenges at the day job where I am cross training on some new stuff. These things will take a lot of my time and focus. Ah, the stress to come.

But today, I am happy that we crossed the line comfortably with the new Kickstarter. I did all this for Caleb and Joe's family. I did it for Caleb. And I want it to be hugely successful for them and we sell a mass amount of comics. But this is just the basic cost needs for the book to get out the door. We still got far to go with the funds to raise. So much more can be done. And we've got 13 days to do it. Please repost or check out the Kickstarter for my new book: TALES FROM THE GORE right HERE

I appreciate the support, as do Caleb and Joe's family. I've done all my work. Its up to us to keep it going. Let's rock this thing!

--T

Birthday Post: 39 Things I've Learned

Hello friends! Its been a crazy week! So far, I've wanted to just do this:

Yeah, maybe even drink the pee water too. Mostly because I've been dealing with this:

Any hope for him to do a decent job has gone right out the window with several things done in his first five days... untruths or "alternative facts," getting rid of the FHA tax break (which I was looking into), spinning truths about voting numbers or actual turnout for his swearing in ceremony, eliminating the arts programs and museum/library service benefits and today he signed a bill that is allowing the Dakota pipeline to go forward. There are many other headaches, but I'll leave that for my social media ranting.

Yeah I've decided to stick with the social media. Especially now. Because, YOU NEED ME. Now more than ever. And I understand that might bore you or you might be sick of it already. However, I make no apologies. If I'm keeping social media in my life, I'm going to run it my way. I'm seeking truth and hope, like you. And I will not be silent anymore. I am using my voice and art to show the world as I see it. That's my job as an artist and writer. On social media, you'll still get updates on my stuff, music and movie links, fun memes and other such stuff I've always done, but you will also get links to unbiased news sources speaking about what is going on. And if you truly seek the truth that is going on, you'll give it an actual read and draw your own conclusions. But note: I will NEVER come onto your feed to nay-say or argue with you or disrespect you or your viewpoint and I hope that is reciprocal. Its your wall, use it as you want... just like I will to mine. If I feel like things cross the line, I will cut that line. Be respectful and courteous. That is all I'm asking. In the end, I am a warrior against bullshit and I'm on team people. So make love and make good art. That's the end of the discussion.

This week also I had a birthday. I turned 39 years old. And in this blog, I'll share a special list of 39 things I've "learned" while living on this planet with you. But before that, some minor things: 

After growing my hair long for a few months, I decided to cut it short again. I didn't like spending extra time shampooing it. Yeah, I'm lazy.

The boys got haircuts too. Here's James with his trusty Ipad.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for the increased downloads of my MORNING SHOW PODCAST! The numbers are spiking and I'm thinking: HOLY CRAP!!! I appreciate it! I think the stats on this week posted here were the Roddenberry dvd review and my year end recap. Thanks all! The podcast continues on itunes. Subscribe for free!

 Anyway, without further delay, the reason you are all here:

39 THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN MY 39 YEARS ON PLANET EARTH: 

1-The only currency we have in life is our story.
2-Trust is earned, not given and can go away at any time.
3-Tuna Casserole is awesome.
4-Kirk can beat Picard. I don't care what you say.
5-Never trust a hardcore music fan if they cannot acknowledge the Beatles.
6-Do something creative to give back to the book of humanity.
7-The gas gauge has an arrow on it and that shows the side where the tank lid is.
8-Enjoy every great moment. Because once its gone, its gone.
9-Reboots and remakes all suck ass.
10-You job isn't the totalization of you, but does help you do things you want outside of it. Work hard and enjoy it.
11-You'll never get to where you are going if you stop to argue with every asshole that gets in your way. Keep going.
12-Life is too short to stress about people, places or things that don't deserve to be an issue in your life.
13-Carpe Diem. Live in the right now, always.
14-Never argue online. Its pointless. Like a screen door on a submarine.
15-Take time to enjoy shit you like and feel no guilt about doing it or liking what you like.
16-Sit and watch cartoons with some cereal on a Saturday morning once in a while. Just because you can.
17-Always research and seek opinions beyond your own. Minds are like parachutes, they only function when they are open.
18-Always watch your back.
19-Everyone at some point will hurt you. But only a few are worth the hurt.
20-Go see live music.
21-Spend more time in nature when you can.
22-Take those we've lost along the way with you, spiritually. Talk to them in your head. Enjoy their continued company. Never forget them.
23-Always be truthful. Living in lies is no way to live.
24-Always be the best you can be. Have Honor and loyalty to those who matter the most to you.
25-Reach out to old friends who you haven't talked to in a while.
26-Success is your own perspective. No one can define it for you.
27-You cannot expect people to treat you and react the same way you do.
28-Dress in your favorite outfit and style. Its uniquely you and never change YOU.
29-Fuck perfection. Learn in public and learn from those mistakes.
30-Be real. What you see is what you get.
31-Don't live a life of snottiness or snarkiness.
32-Its ok to not like things but don't be a dick about it.
33-The loudest person in the room is always the most insecure.
34-Look at the big picture... always.
35-Accept yourself as you are right now.
36-Value your alone time and enjoy time with yourself.
37-Anger damages you, let it go.
38-Be healthy but indulge once in a while.
39-Live in peace. Onward and upward, always!

Thanks all for reading. I will have a special surprise this week! Stay tuned....

--T

The Struggle State of my Being

Lazy New Year so far... for some!

Hello friends!

The days drift on by and I continue to work on the state of my being. And it is a constant struggle. I'm working on better diet habits. I'm working on trying to find a rhythm with my artwork. Tonight I finished inks on three pages for the upcoming horror comic anthology. The artwork is almost done and so I can move into post production with it all. Here's a peek:

Other than that, no new Starslam pages yet. I'm planning to sneak out this week and get some shit done. I really need to. I need that jumpstart!

Meanwhile, I'm doing a lot of this: 

 I've caught up with a lot of things I haven't seen. Like The Last Dragon, Labyrinth, Eat this Question (Zappa documentary), Queen of the Damned, etc. I've shown my girl some movies she hasn't seen like Rocky, Predator and Ed Wood. She loved them all as I knew she would. Both of us are just missing a few movies here and there in our checklist.

I'm enjoying watching them and I'm still working on the collection of discs, games and of course... MUSIC:

My new finds out in the wild this week!

All the CDs I've been getting I already have in my digital collection but I'm getting used expanded editions for my new CD shelf I got myself for my bday.

Speaking of bdays, today my dad turns 72. Its a real trip to think that my dad is 72. To me, he'll always be in his 40s or something like that. So weird to think that I'm older now that he was when I was born. He was 33. I turn 39 in a couple weeks. Its so surreal. Anyway, I hope I can get away some weekend and travel down to see him again. I know for the next three months I am going to be on mad overtime at the day job and I need it to save up for this year. I got some massive things coming up. Trips, a move, etc. So much to do...

I'm working hard to make better decisions for my health, both physical and mental. Continue to bare with me as I sort it all out. I hope to be completely cured by the time I'm 40. That's how it all works, right? Wave the magic wand and you're all sorted and fixed? Eh, not quite. But hell, I'm ok. I got good things rolling and I get a shot at waking up again tomorrow.

Tonight I did some drawing, a podcast and a new blog. Now I'm gonna sip some drinks and celebrate my life. Every day is a celebration. Enjoy the gifts you got and have earned. Onward and upward.

In the end, there is no struggle to my being, except the struggle I give to myself. We all have the keys to our own vehicle. How we maintain that vehicle and take care of it and where we go with it... thats up to us.

--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

Merry Holidays everyone!

Merry Holidayz everyone!

Hey folks. Its 5am and I'm up. Its been a whirlwind of a week. Most of it has been a vicious cycle of work/sleep. The overtime pay is nice but I am starting to feel a little cramped. Its part of the gig and I get that. But I also acknowledge that I'm feeling sorta spacey lately. Just out of it. I can never relax or get calm. I mean here it is, 5am and I'm fucking up doing stuff.

I got quite a few health issues going on. I'm slowly awakening to the fact that I think I have a form of Attention Deficit Disorder. I think I've always had it and have never bothered to address it. That would explain a great many things. Like why I can never sit still without moving some body part, fidgeting with my hands or legs, unable to stay focused, doodling, messing with objects, jumping from one idea to the next with no transition, overactive mind, chew pens and things, etc.  I feel like there is a constant war inside my head of memories vs. current stimulus. I cannot ever just sit still and comfortably. I'm not very observant. For example, I love playing games like chess or solitaire, but I am the worst player at these because I cannot see simple moves in plain sight. I'm very easy to beat.

Other health issues are no doubt because of my failure to stay on a diet. I've really ballooned up all year. I get chest aches and pains and I am quickly out of breath often. Also, I have some worsening knee trouble (started last year) and I'm prone to panic attacks now. I got a lot of shit going on and its something I am going to address in the new year. I pretty much HAVE to at this point. I need to put me first for once and start saying "no" more often. I feel like a dick when I cannot be there for everyone or do things with everyone that I can. But I just need to take a breather and get calm, get healthy and start taking care of these things one by one. I need to do some therapy again. I got shit in the basement to deal with (don't we all) and it seems that every day the paperboy brings more for me to shovel onto my mind.

So, 2017 goal: Get myself right. I'm almost 40. Time to get some shit taken care of.

In between shifts at the job I have managed to pencil a few pages on the Caleb/Horror comic thingie. Nothing big to show yet, but just illustrating to you folks that the work continues. I'm trying, I really am.

My girl has been working a lot of hours too and the daily grind is a stress to her as well. But she takes care of me. I let her open a couple gifts early and she let me open another one: 

PUSHEEN CAT!!!!!! I cuddle with him every night!

Of course, I cannot neglect my REAL kitty... no matter how much of a booger she is sometimes....

The snow has started to hit us hard in Michigan and that is always a depressing time for me. The older I get the more I fucking hate the cold weather. I used to not mind it, now I hate it. If I could uproot my life and move to a warmer climate, I would in a heart beat.

I've wrote out my year end blog already and will post it the last week of December. We aren't there quite yet. Besides, I haven't seen Rogue One yet and I just found out a new Nine Inch Nails EP is coming next week! At least its an exciting time in new media that I dig.

I'm making early plans for 2017 and giving myself things to work hard toward and to look forward to. I am hoping for big changes next year that didn't seem to happen this year, for ANYONE! Its been a fuck-shit-ass-balls-cock of a year. But there's always the puncher's chance that we will kick the tires and light the fires for next year.

Here's to hope,

T

P.s. Be safe out there and happy holidays to all of you!