The Days Slip By...

Its been a while since I posted a non-business-y blog here so I thought I'd write to everyone a bit.

First of all, the looks at the site and the downloads of the Morning Show podcast have been steadly increasing. I thank all of you for coming out and also staying interested. Even in the downtime of me not releasing anything new, I try to keep good content coming like podcasts, blogs, daily FB and Twitter posts. So thanks. I will be retooling the sit a bit soon and making an all new COMMISSIONS and ORIGINAL ART SALES section. Also promoting my FB and Twitter links more. Give me some time on that. But I appreciate the attention. So much on the net is trying to gain your interest but you keep coming back. I thank you. I'll always continue to keep up my end of the bargain.

Today we went and picked up our cat Jake's ashes. I couldn't help but get a big lump in my throat upon seeing the tin its in, which finally developed into a bit of tears when I got home. I guess it sort of cements the reality a bit more in my head. See, I wasn't here the day we had to put him down. So its always sorta felt like he was simply upstairs sleeping somewhere. Other than the little reminders of him not coming down at 7pm on the dot asking for food or rubbing on my legs when I did put the food down, it just felt like he was here. But now its more of a "reality" that he's not. That sucks. Its one week now, to the day that he's been gone.

Mostly its been out of my mind. I've been keeping busy with laundry, deep cleaning things around the house, rearranging my office a bit. I haven't got much work done beyond some small commission stuff. I am hoping to get into a rhythm this weekend of solid production on my own stuff. I got a list growing a mile long and I am tired of the distractions.

I've taken some slow personal time to listen to podcasts to keep me laughing. I watched some Tom Baker Doctor Who and finally sat down to watch Iron Man 3. I missed it in the theater. I still haven't seen Godzilla (2014) and don't really have the drive to go to the theater to go see a flick. I've just been on autopilot really. The thoughts on my mind about the things I need to work on that I learned at C4 have got my brain in a good place. I know what I got to do, now its just a matter of doing it.

Things are on the rise. My step-mom's cancer is shrinking, so that is great news. I'm almost sold out of my new print run of Pleasant Life books. Those commissions I have done have come out quite satisfactory and I apply for new gigs daily. My head is in the game and I am doing it. I got my goals set and a plan in motion. I simply just have to put the car into gear and hit the gas pedal. It will happen. It always does.

One thing I want to do immediately is do a quick kids' book about Jake. I already got the style and plot laid out. A simple 12 page thing resembling a kids' book. Maybe put it together and sell it as an all ages book at the shows. All my life I dealt with my problems through my comics. Mom's death was in Pleasant Life, Milo was in Anna Pocalypse... and certainly Jake will be no different. Its theraputic for me to do so. So I hope you enjoy it when its done. Soon. Very soon. It will be good for me to do that, I think.

As we approach mid-year, I reflect back on 2014 and what a bummer of a year its been. From the very beginning of January with my dad's heart attack, crap winter, step mom's cancer, James' surgery, money woes, freelance struggles, lack of shows, lack of sales, Jake's death and other stuff... its just been a weird 6 months. But there's also been some great times. The wife and I get to get out of the house once in a while now. We've made some great new friends. We spend time together now and I still am improving on my work. Plus I got all my books back in print and our Kickstarter was funded. Its been equally as good. I don't focus on the negative all the time. I am fully aware of what is going right for me too. And we've got nowhere to go but up. Onward and Upward as I always say.

Thanks all for caring and the emails/messages you all have sent. They mean the world to me. But we're okay. We're rockin'. Pedal to the metal. You'll get a lot from me very soon. You haven't seen anything yet.

Cheers, T

Cherry Capital Con Recap!

Whew! What a weekend. Just what I needed in fact! I'm back from the great Cherry Capital Comic Con and it was great fun. I got to finally visit Traverse City, Michigan and enjoy the scenery. First up when I arrived on Friday, I headed straight to RPM Records, which is near the mall. I traded some vinyl in and shopped for some new stuff. Here's some pics from the store:

They had pretty much every record from every mainstream artist I could think of. Some used, mostly new. Great prices! Store was well layed out and big! I coulda spent hours in there digging. 

On the wall were some autographs for sale, including a complete NIRVANA autographed 8x10. But I was interested in the Pink Floyd one: 

I HIGHLY recommend going to the store if you are in the area. I for sure will be back!

While at the show, I got some nice visitors... including one in particular who thought ANNA POCALYPSE was HOT! 

Some obligatory photos of my hotel room and view out the 12th story window of Lake Michigan. Very pretty area: 

On Sunday, my pals Matt and Michelle came and hung out with me the last three hours of the day. It was great to see them!

It was a long great weekend and by Sunday I was beat. I sold some good stuff, had great fun, had long late night talks over some beers and I came home with some new ideas and a refreshed mind. I desperately needed this vacation and despite the ups and downs of the weekend (I.E. my beloved cat Jake's death on Friday before the show), I had good fun. I kept focused on trying to have a good weekend and I did. Thanks to all who came out to see us and took something of mine home. Also major thanks to Rob, Mike and all the staff/volunteers of Cherry Capital Comic Con. It was a great time! 

Cherry Capital Con Exclusive Print!

Here it is! The first official look at a print we're having this weekend at CHERRY CAPITAL CON! Its a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle print done by me and my buddies Sherief and Daniel. I pencilled most of it and did Raphael and Michelangelo. Sherief did Leo, inked most of it, some more of the background characters and colored the whole thing. Daniel did the Donatello. It came out super sweet and I am excited about it. Each of us will have 10 copies only of this print at our tables. So there's only a total of 30 in existence. The ONLY way to get it is to be at Cherry Capital Comic Con this weekend from one of us. Yet another reason to make plans to go to the show!!

I am beyond excited about the show. I desperately need a vacation and a con trip. Looking forward to it very much. Please make plans to come out and see all of us. Its going to be a happening.

See ya there!

MAYHEM and STAR WARS VII (plus Cherry Con)

Hey folks! All the TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM #3 books have been mailed out. Thanks for supporting our Kickstarter! I do have about a dozen personal copies available if you need one. Simply EMAIL ME HERE to order one. OR I will have them at this next weekend's CHERRY CAPITAL CON! See you there.

This newest Kickstarter really went well and after seeing and talking with other friends about their success at KS, I got more ideas to make the next one even better. So when we rock #4, it will be even larger! but for now, I am enjoying the fruits of the labor and a job well done and finished!

So GODZILLA is in the theater and I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for the crowds to die down a bit. I don't really dig seeing movies in the theater for various reasons. I guess I'm an old curmudgeon and can't deal with crowds. But I will see it, as I am dying to. Its about the only current thing on my radar.

However, I cannot help but be excited about STAR WARS VIII beginning filming. Not only are some of my old heroes coming back but it also means fresh blood, new toys, new cards to work on, and more. Plus now my kids get the thrill of seeing Star Wars on their terms now. The old sting and fights about the prequels and their dissapointment seem a dim memory. All I am left with is the excitement. I really don't want to build it up too much in my head, but I cannot help it. I keep checking out the toy aisles and considering rebuying lots of my 90's Star Wars toys to have them in the box. Also get the vehicles to play with the kids. I just want to be ready! Yeah, I'm in my late 30's but I am not checking in my kid gloves yet. In other words, the force is strong with me! Always.

Okay, I got a TON of things to get done before next weekend. This week is going to be a complete blur. Really looking forward to the Cherry Capital Comic Con and I hope ya'll can make it out. See ya there!

Cheers, T