Slurpees and Popsicles!

Hey friends! 

 

I have had a busy time as usual. Work, artwork, sleep, family, repeat. But I have been making some progress! 

 

I chatted with my STARSLAM 3 colorist to see if he is on board to color STARSLAM 4 and he is in! So there is good news once again. I will be sending him some pages pretty soon. Also I have been working very hard to get caught up with commissions. I just gotta letter a 5 pager and finish art on an 8 pager and then I am finally caught up. Although a couple other guys want me to do a few more story based ones. The money, is good, to be honest. I need to be paying off my stuff and making up for some of the purchases I have been doing lately.

 

To be honest, I've gone a bit overboard. I'm not in trouble, but just went a tad crazy on the pre-orders. So I am curbing it for the rest of the summer. No seriously! There is a CD/Vinyl show here in town tomorrow and I am not going. So its that serious! HA! 

 

I'm joking, kids. I'm all good. Just want to get my card paid back down before the holidays come around. Also I got the big show in Mt. Pleasant in October to save for. I've been working very hard to juggle everything. But the last month or so we've dealt with some depression and my oldest son came for a visit, so we did some spending. Its okay. Life is happening! It all good. Health is better too. I am lower in weight than I originally thought I would be. So that is always a good thing. 

 

The sad news is that I don't think me doing TWO Kickstarters in Aug/Sept is logical or doable. I'm just not that caught up yet. But I want to get STARSLAM 4 really rocking and then launch the Kickstarter for that. I think... I am not sure which way to go. I penciled some killer new pages for that comic this week. I can't wait for you all to see this thing! 

 

But the work on everything continues and the PATREON is nice and caught up all the way to November. I got 5 other stories for it beyond that in various stages of development. All references are pulled and things are happening. But I gotta get these commissions and STARSLAM 4 rolling more before I can focus on those. But to be good and far enough ahead on it is a great thing! I got the comics all scheduled all the way to September. I just need to word balloon and upload the comics beyond that. I need a nice couple quiet days of solid productivity to get it done. Here's hoping!

 

Last week my oldest son visited. We took the opportunity to take a photo of me with all three of my boys. I think its one of the best pics I've ever taken. (And I hate pics of me!) Here it is: 

 

 

 

Handsome group, don't ya think? I think so! I'm proud of all three of them. 

 

Anyway, just giving an update to say that I am working hard and being quiet because of the productivity. Believe me, soon you will all get sick of hearing from me! 

 

Till next time, stay cool, eat them slurpees and down those popsicles! 

 

--T

Father's Day Week

Hey friends!

Father's Day weekend was awesome! I got to spend time with two of my little buggers and then I got some nice presents from everyone! D got me a SLIMER Pop and METROPOLIS complete on Blu-ray and a neat little pop up Beatles card. Her parents got me a large coffee table book on the making of RETURN OF THE JEDI. My oldest son got me this really cool metal STAR TREK display that I will hang in my collection. James and Scotty got me hand made cards and paintings. It was all very lovely. And I got to spend time with them over the weekend.

James laid on me while we watched Cars 3. Some nice cuddle time. I got Scotty some discs and James some candy. Scott also played a bit of an old Family Guy video game I got for him. That is a very old and frustrating game!

Speaking of video games, I got this:

Its been on my radar for a while to have one, so I got a Nintendo Switch! So far I have played MARIO ODYSSEY. I haven't plugged in ZELDA yet. I got a couple other games that are out that I want to get but I've been too busy to go out and get them. I guess this was a Father's Day treat for myself. Its been a rough go of things as of late. Needed a nice pick me up.

But don't think for a minute that I am just playing video games and ignoring my creative duties! I finished the VAMPIRELLA card set. Here's a look at some of them:

 In comic news: I've got about 15 pages on STARSLAM to ink. Here's a couple teaser images, no spoilers!

Plus also I got hired to do an 8 page horror comic for a nice dude. I gotta shoot pencils to him this week sometime so no video gaming until I finish that! But, I got a sore left thumb right now, so video gaming is off the table until that is healed. Just sore from biting my nails too much. Stupid me, but no biggie.

I also got some commissions that are overdue so I am not taking on anything else until these are done and out. I also shipped out all the books from LATE NIGHT SHORTS, so that is done. Just gotta finish a couple things for the bigger reward level people, as understanding and supportive as they always are! And then its my job to color all the completed PATREON stories... of which I am done and scanned in all the way to November, with a couple more in the pencil stage. I just want to get them all done and off my plate so I can finish these other things. So much to do. I feel guilty even getting a new movie or game system to distract me sometimes... but I know you need to take a break or else I go mad.

Coming up this fall are some great Switch games like Dragon Quest 11 (Where you can switch back and forth between regular modern and SUPER NINTENDO style graphics). Also a new LEGO STAR WARS game next year. A couple other ones I am forgetting too as I type this. But what is also coming out this fall is something I must get:

Look at that beauty! She's gonna cost a bit... like $500 but it should be out in November. This game and GALAGA are my two favorite arcade video games of all time. To have that in my kids' room along with all my toys might make me the biggest nerd... but perhaps the best dad ever! If I had this in my room as a kid? Oh man...

Not that my childhood wasn't great already, its just that now in this modern age we can get cheaper versions of these nostalgic things and I can share them with my boys. (But they gotta wait til daddy is done with them first!)

Thanks for reading!

--T

The Tale of A Tooth

This is a deep writing. Bare with me.

I honestly don't even know how to begin. I just have the feels tonight and I want to let it out somehow. I guess it started with my oldest son, Cody. He grew up with his mother, two.. sometimes four hours away from where I was living. While I did see him when I could, I missed out on a lot of the little things. He seems okay about it today. He's in college up at Michigan Tech making his dreams a reality. I really regret that I couldn't be there for the little things, but it was the nature of the situation we were in. So it goes.

I have two more children, Scott and James. When their mother and I divorced, Scott was five. James was one. Scott may remember, but James will never remember what it was like to have me around everyday.

In the beginning I was there always. Now, I am only there on weekends. Our weekends together consist of mostly play and me trying to squeeze in housework and my other job's needs around it. Sometimes the regular day job calls me away and I have to work, missing one of the precious few days I get to see them in a month. I wish I could do more. But I work so much. 40 hours and overtime. Plus the second job. And lately, I'm having to do even more work and time on the jobs to make ends meet. It will be like that for a while. I've tried to prepare myself mentally for the days where I might have to work instead of being home with them.

Again, I miss out. So it goes.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining about having a good job and a great fanbase that supports my work so that I can continue to make art and use my actual degree and lifelong training to draw and make worlds and art for people to enjoy. But I have to work double hard to make ends meet for my home and for my kids. And in that, when the little things come, they come out of nowhere and I have to pause and look. Usually its already passed me by. Scott would be talking and I would look into his mouth. There is a tooth missing. He'd be like "oh yeah! I lost a tooth!" And I'm on the floor sobbing. I miss so much.

I never have been there for any of my kids to loose a tooth. (Note: After I just typed that last sentence, I had to stop and cry for a bit. Its now ten minutes later as I finish.) And that is where the anger and the pain of separation from my kids comes in. All these little things most parents take for granted, I miss out on. By design, it is so. Over time, I've slowly learned to accept that. It is what it is. I miss every milestone that comes. They arrive and look older. They speak better, write better. I stay the same. So it goes.

You know the worst phrase I hear in my life? "Goodbye dad, I love you. See you next weekend." Its like a fucking knife, every time I hear it. Every time.

This weekend my youngest son James came to me and said, "I lost a tooth!" His first tooth. I of course am now biting my lip not to cry again. Just let it go. Just let it go. Bury it for now, deal with it later. Get alone after the weekend and cry it out. Talk it out. Write it out. Scream it out. Just get through it. Because this is just the way it is.

But this time was different...

James had a second tooth that was loose. I got kind of excited about it. Maybe, he might lose it this weekend! Nah, won't happen on my watch. I'm not that lucky.

Tonight, his tooth came out. His second baby tooth that was in every picture I took when he was young. He was happy to be rid of it but worried that the tooth fairy might not find him at daddy's house. I assured him that she likely would and I would put it in a plastic baggie to keep it safe for her. I wrote on a note inside: JAMES TOOTH. 9-14-19. Its in my lock box now. I'm keeping it forever. After all this time, I finally earned a moment. I earned a tooth.

When you are the father of kids who live in a separated home, its a tough battle. You feel like you have a lot to explain for. You have major obligations. You cannot afford time to feel or remember. You just have to keep going. Ignore that empty baby seat in the back of your car. Fold their clothes and put them away in quiet. Don't let the pain and loneliness trickle down to them. Its your cross to bare. Get them groceries, things to do and make plans for the coming weekend. Keep hoping you will actually get the day off with them and the sun will come out so you can walk outside or go to the park. Watch the other mommies and daddies together there as you stick out as a single parent there with your boys. Just be there. Hope for one day in the future that you can truly be there for them in a way you know how and that the pain is long gone. Hope for the days when it doesn't even matter anymore. You did your job and you will continue to be the rock for them. Keep trying to turn them on to things you like. Maybe the seeds you plant will grow? Who knows.

So much to do and get through. Tough times ahead. But the one thing I know right now is that I got a tooth. James said the tooth fairy brought him one dollar for his tooth at his house. At daddy's house tonight, the fairy left two.

--T

A for Effort

Welcome back my friends. I just slept 13 hours to refill my tanks from a long weekend with the boys. For some reason this weekend I couldn't sleep at all. Maybe 3 hours a night. Just my brain on overdrive. No THINKY PAIN this time, just random BS. Same old way my brain always works. Laying in bed at 3am then I think, "Whatever happened to that studio where Rush recorded all those albums like "Moving Pictures" and "Signals?" I heard they were closing it. What happened with that?" Then I'm on google or youtube trying to find random BS facts about that random thing I just thought up. Cause I know if I don't do that the second I think of it, I'll forget about it and then spend hours going, "What was I wanting to look up last night? I can't remember!" I used to just leave a notepad at my bed table to write down thoughts. But then the next day I can't read my chicken scratch or I decide what I wrote wasn't worth pursuing. Vicious cycle I put my brain through. I should get some pills to mellow myself out. But I'm not a drug guy.

I had fun with my boys this weekend:

Through a trade I recently acquired an old Millennium Falcon toy. I got it for the kids. Here is James slowly discovering it. Twas a nice moment to pass along something from my youth to him. I had so many fun years with my own Falcon toy.

James loves the slides at the Jumping Jax bounce house in Lansing.

Bounce houses is something James and Scott-Bot can both get in on!

Momma Belle and Baby Luna observing the boys and their activities. Man, Luna has got so big!!

My best friend.

I spent all Monday trying to recooperate on sleep, while my poor girlfriend had to clean the house on her own. It was nice of her to sacrifice her time to see that I could lay down and awake 13 hours later to be somewhat normal.... whatever normal is for me lately.

I haven't done much this past weekend on comics stuff. This week I hope to get the final drawings done for the newest book I hope to get the Kickstarter rolling for. Then word ballooning as well. I have a Saturday to myself this weekend as D is going camping up north. But then I gotta see the boys Sunday for a condensed time and get my sleep pattern changed to tackle a week of overnights. I'm doing last stretch training at the day job that will open a lot of opportunities for me. New programs, new ways to output digital work and all of that leads into more overtime... something that will help with my long term life goals. It will probably condense a bit more of my "free time," but eh, I don't care. I got an opportunity here to make some cash and start saving/paying off things. That is where my life needs to be leading at the moment. I got so many goals (small and big) to work on. This whole effort at the day job will help make a lot of it happen. Necessary.

Speaking of life, I want to tackle a sensitive subject. I know a lot of people read this and so I hope to address it here. I know I'm busy. I know lots of my free time is occupied with kids, adulting and all my creative endeavors.  But sometimes people read me being busy the wrong way and then think I am avoiding them or something to that nature. Then that leads to me being blocked or unfriended or unfollowed on social media or just basically written off as a friend. It really pains me to see when that happens. Every day I'll think to an old friend or acquaintance I haven't heard from in a while and I check up on them. And it is easy to see when they have unliked, unfriended or unfollowed me in some way. Sometimes I'll contact them and work out what they are thinking or feeling about me or the situation. I know so many people and with life's juggles its hard to keep up with everyone. Doesn't mean I don't care about you. My time is limited. Life has got in the way. Whatever the case is, its not an excuse I offer you. Nothing has changed for me. My heart and door is always open to those I care about. I'm very accessible by message, call, email, etc. You hit me with an email or message, I usually will get back to you within a day, if not minutes. I get saddened when someone who means so much to me feels I've wronged them in some way and feels it necessary to cut ties with me. It hurts to know that what you think you have with a person, after all you went through with them, that you can be so easily discarded or disregarded. I truly believe that people enter your life and are in your life at key moments. And you think, "Wow, thank God they were there then!" And before you know it, things somehow have changed between you. It sucks. It really does. I make efforts every week to reach out to someone (usually on Twitter or Facebook) with someone who I haven't talked to in a while. An old co-worker. An old college friend. An old artist buddy... etc. I've been blessed to cross paths with so many people. and with only a handful of arseholes I've now cut off from my life, I've been very lucky to know everyone I've met. Just know that when I am randomly thinking of stupid crap late at night, I'm also randomly thinking about you too. "Whatever happened to so and so? Man I miss when we worked together or were at that show together that one year. I wonder how their kids are doing or what they are working on now..." My thoughts are always on you. I try to reach out. It makes me feel great when I do. And I am glad when others reach out to me too. Even if its just a LIKE or a comment on the blog here. It lets me know you are still out there and give a shit. I notice all who do it. Don't think your simple clicks through your busy day are lost on me. I notice who is still there in my corner. And just know, I am still in yours. I love you all!

Man, I got a TO DO list 28 miles long. Mountains to climb. Dreams to grab hold of and force them into existence. Everyday I chop at the thick tree, waiting for it to crunch and topple over and get the fuck out of my way.

Give me an A for Effort. I'm trying hard folks. I really am.

--T

Shake it Off!

Hello friends!

Last week sucked. No other words can fit the bill. It just sucked. So much turmoil in the day to day and all over the world. It seems like everything is unraveling and everything is unfair.

First of all everything going on with our new president (I won't go there... but suffice to say I'm not too happy), then some disappointment with things involving my son and the person who hurt him... basically she will get away with it. After months and months of investigating and a partial confession and a long night of photos taken/deep exams at the hospital, nothing will happen. He seems fine but I am not. I will never forget it. Then just working a shit ton of overtime, asshole drama, some long discussions about a future that is impossible for me to achieve yet. I've just had to wake up to some realities.

The reality is that the dream life I want, the dream person I want to be, I cannot have... yet.

My goals are still there but the chance to achieve them are still in its infancy. As I try to wrestle down the feelings and hurt I have about it, I keep struggling to be on the righteous path and do the right thing. The smart thing. I do this while battling my own personal demons, and the fight isn't strategically set for the best outcome, despite the odds. We all got shit sandwiches on our plate and we're all struggling to gulp it down as though it were the best hash you've ever been served.

So last night, after a long week of struggle and a weekend filled with stress and anguish, talking about all the shit that brings me down, I wanted to drink. And I did. I got some booze and I inhaled it. The buzz came on. But before that, I had to crank out some pencils on a couple commissions. And while I was drinking and listening to some Carol King, I couldn't keep the micron pens out of my hand. So I did a little inking... which turned into more inking... which then turned into ALL the inking I had on my desk. I ended up inking four of the commissions and five of the newest Pleasant Life 2 pages I had pencilled two months ago. By the time the smoke cleared I was sobered up and driven to get work done.

This morning I woke up at 8:20. Only about five hours of sleep. But I found myself driven to get back up and get things done. I finished the last page of the Zombie horror book and scanned it in for the process. Then I scanned all that I had inked the night before. I scanned my tax stuff and sent it to my CPA best friend. All while I did this I was converting a shit ton of old .avi files to Mp4 for future DVD burnings. Just putting out the little fires of small projects I've had on my plate for the last five years or so. I also cleaned out my phone and put new shit on it. New exercise music mixes for my treadmill that will arrive this week.

Some days I wake up and I wish I hadn't woke up at all. Other times I wake up early, so driven to make the day my bitch. Today was one of those days and it was one I needed. Time and life have been dragging us all down. I was talking with a friend yesterday who was saying the same thing and the personal crap that is going on in his life. We're all feeling it. We're all trying to shake it off and gulp down the shit sandwich.

But hey, we're still here. Still standing. Still us.

We get to get up and take another shot at earning our goals and beating our demons. We get to get up and create and make art and spread love. We're trying. And no evil can break that down.

Today was a day I needed. Tomorrow might be another story. But for now, I am ok.

And maybe that's enough.

_____________________________

Okay, some PLUGS!

These guys reviewed my book: PLEASANT LIFE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION! Check out their review HERE Thanks guys!

The IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW Podcast continues to thrive! New episode uploaded last night! Check out the RSS stream right HERE

My new VLOG channel is LIVE! Check it out right HERE

Interested in Pleasant Life or any of my other books? My online store is still around! Each book comes with a head sketch, autograph and a little tiny treat inside! Online store for ordering is HERE

Thanks for your continued reading and support!

--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

FINALLY!

Oh man, I've re-discovered a rush that is better than coffee and a Mt. Dew combined.... actually DOING SOME ARTWORK!

Yeah, its been something I've been struggling with for months now. I used to sit and do 5-8 pages a night in light pencils and then ink on them all week. It was how I did things. I've kept wanting to tap into that energy for a while now but the events of 2016 just sucked the life out of that workflow. Well last night, the time was right. The moon was in the right position, the drink in my cup was the exact ratio I needed, the Howard Stern recaps on Sirius were the right ones streaming, everyone left me alone and I tapped into the workflow. I had the PS4 waiting behind me, aching me to play Lego Star Wars or GTA 5 again, but I resisted and said I could as a reward if I just got the fuck to work!

So I sat at the table. Seven hours later I emerged triumphant!

In total, I got two commissions partially done (gotta color those tonight), and NINE pages for STARSLAM 3 pencilled and in various stages of ink slapped on pages!

Wow, did I need that. It really made me feel great. Like an artistic orgasm I sorely needed to feel again. After the smoke cleared I treated myself to two hours of some Lego Star Wars on PS4. My girl came home and we watched some TV together and cuddled. Today I set my alarm for 9:45 and I shot right up, anxious to get more work done! I was rewarded with my dedication to get the cover to the Caleb book done:

COMING SOON!!! (yes, I know there is a spelling error... some stuff still being worked on as I type this. This is not the final version)

Man it feels good to finally tap into some of the energy to get some work done. Do I have an actual disciplined work ethic when it comes to my own work again? Lets hope! I'm well aware of my track record from last year with everything going on, and how it can dissipate in a minute. Its easy to knock the wind out of my sails lately. So for now, I am just going to enjoy feeling like this while I can and get as much done as I can!

Well, back to work but let me leave you with this cute pic of lil' James with the worst case of bedhead he had this weekend!

Looks like Eraserhead or something!

--Take care,

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

Gearing Up the Holidays

Hey friends!

Seems like everyday I am going, going, going. In a couple days it will be Thanksgiving. I'm going to have a friend come by to eat, along with my kids for a couple hours. Then I will have two glorious days of peace and quiet. I don't plan on doing anything. Not going anywhere. Maybe pick up a pencil or two, but other than that, just staying at home and spending time with my girl. Sunday I'll have the kids again, and then its back to work. But I am very much looking for this little mini break I am getting. I need it. The day job, while I love it, it can get a bit mundane and I am looking forward to a break. I'm getting older and things just seem to take more out of me. Plus this:

Star Trek: FIRST CONTACT came out 20 years ago today. It was the best of the TNG movies. It also is the only movie I saw twice in the same day. I saw it early in the day, as I do with all Trek movies that come out. Then at night a group of friends all wanted to go see it so I went with them. It was worth it. It ranks highly on my favorites of the Trek flicks.But 20 years???? MAN THAT MAKES ME FEEL OLD!!!!!

But its not all bad. My new kitty has brought some life and excitement to the daily drone on. 

She LOVES to drink out of our cups. Can't leave them laying around or else she'll tip them over.

And she's EXCELLENT with the kids!

James sitting in her toy basket.

But its not all without some productivity in the house. This week I took the Bat Blazer for a tune up and got some erotica pages inked. Also did some new Pleasant Life 2 pencils...

New Pleasant Life 2 pencils!

And I paid my colorist and so I got a slew of new pages from him and man are they killer! I can't show the bulk of them cause (spoilers) but here are a couple: 

Starslam 3 colors!

Man, the HQ hasn't looked any better than this!

Man, Andy is killing it with the colors on these pages! My art has never looked better! Its a great high note to go out on!

Whoa, whoa, what? "Go out on?" What does that mean?

I'll let those thoughts gestate for the time being, but I'm really thinking about doing other things beyond comics. Like the novel writing. Getting back into oil painting. Doing model kits for my home, etc. I figure why not finish all the projects I promised and then call it a day for a while... or longer than that. It will be a while before that can happen, and who knows what vigor will be reignited in that time from now til then. But I'm considering all these things as I move forward. 2017 will be a huge year as far as releases from me goes. You'll see a lot of me in print form. After that, I have nothing planned. Not sure if I will plan anything either.

But let's not dwell on those thoughts today. We've got a lot of work to get done before those questions can even be pondered. Four comic projects. Two novels. Its a lot to get done, so the work continues. Also: I got some special plans for the video youtube channel I plan on announcing very soon. A nice little Xmas present coming for ya'll!

I'm such a cock tease...

I hope everyone has a good holiday weekend. I know I will!

Much love, T

Family Weekend

 Hello friends!

Had a busy week here in the Talley house. My dad came to visit starting on Wednesday. Then he went up north to visit my brothers. I went up Friday and we all had lunch together. Kind of a rarity to get any of us all together anymore! It was nice to do. Then dad came back here to Lansing on Saturday and spent the day with my boys. We all had a massive sleep over. To my surprise it all worked out quite well! The boys were happy to see their grandpa. He left this morning for southern Illinois. It was great to have him here. I miss him very much when we are so far apart in distance like we are. He's doing ok. Coping with what he has got. We had a few deep deep deep conversations about all things spiritual, mental and emotional. When you can connect with your parent on that level, its a real treat.

I introduced James to the wonders of listening to music with headphones. I think he's addicted!

James and grandpa got real close I think: 

Its been an exhausting weekend. Emotional. Lots of juggling. But it was good. I made everyone hamburgers. Then today I made pork chops and mashed potatoes. We all ate hearty. I got James a brand now toy vacuum to add to his obsession. I didn't get to relax much. But later on after everyone left, my pal Jeff came out and we got some lead onto some paper. I eventually dozed off for a mini nap and now I'm up drinking a few and doing some odds and ends.

Good news so far this week is that I got another full story for the Patreon penciled. I am down 6 pounds on the new diet. I'm getting through some things. But things are looking brighter here. Every day brings progress.

Anyway, lets tackle this next week and see what happens. Come what may.

Cheers, T

Life Progress

Welcome back my friends.

There's so much bullshit going on in the world right now. Yet another controversy in comics (guy drew girl too sexy again... how dare they), politics basically imploding (she did/sad, he said/they wont/will) and man, I'm just tired of all of it. Really sick of it. Every time I plug in, I just get dragged down by whats going on out there. I'm better off when I have my head in the sand and I am far away from all of it. So I forsee another break from social media. I cannot trust myself. Maybe this time, it might stick.

I got stuff I'm working on anyway. I am starting a major fruit/veggie fast this week. Its going to be tough but it has to be done. I'm busy working on Starslam 3 stuff, Patreon stuff, writing things, sketchbook works and other creative outlets. At least those things can distract me and always make me happy. I've tapped back into free form thought, writing and sketching in my large sketchbook. Check it:

Its rare that I share my journal/sketchbook randoms in this blog so enjoy that peek. Some dark shit goes on in there. I've done those books since I was in high school. They are my therapy.

The work on Starslam 3 continues. I scanned a bunch of new pages (about 22) and got them ready for coloring. Here's a scene where Starslam and Tara begin some flirting while working out. Hmmm....

This past Saturday I had my last signing appearance of the year (or ever?) at Summit Comics in downtown Lansing. Some friends dropped by and it was good to see them. I sold a few prints and books and did a quick cover commission of Neegan for a book:

I haven't shared much about the upcoming Patreon campaign. But the work is in progress. Here's a SFW non-spoilery look at what I'm doing so far for it. 

So that's the workload on the creative side. On the dayjob, things are ramping up to the busy season so I am looking forward to some major overtime (I hope). I need to save for several things for next year. Yet another move, and to get my boys jointly. I will need to buy furniture, clothes and other things to prepare for their days living with me. Little James is growing up so much:

This week they went trick or treating... Dressed as Superman and Spiderman! I won't attempt to tell them that such a team up would never happen in comics, but whatever! It seems like they had a good time:

James ridin' with his school crush.

Other than that, I am drifting through these somber days and trying to right my ship. I just gotta keep creating, keep ignoring the bullshit of the world, and get myself fit (mentally and physically). There's a lot of changes happening for sure. Its a scary time. But I will get through it like I always have. I have things to look forward to: My dad is coming to visit this weekend. I reserved my hotel for Horrorhound next year. I'm super excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Kitty D and I have already made our lists and checked em 300 times. That NES retro thingie is coming soon. I'm toying with maybe getting a PS4 at some point during or after the holidays. Maybe treat myself for the hard work on the dieting and changes happening.

As always, onward and upward... to ALL of us!