A tiny slice of what I have been working on

He stepped outside, muttering under his breath. The snow had picked up and it sliced through the air in diagonals. No cars moved in the lot and there wasn’t anyone else standing under the awning.

“I know I saw him.”

Through the snow he headed into the parking lot. All of the tire tracks and footprints were half-filled and at least twenty minutes old. He turned back towards the door when he noticed something to his right. In the distance, on top of Red Mountain, a glow incandesced through the storm. His first thought was of headlights cresting the hill but it was too far away and the glare too bright. Through squinted eyes he tried to focus. Some sort of terrestrial aurorae of orange and red leapt towards the low-lying clouds, and for a second seemed to paint them in flickering strokes.

His parent’s house was on fire.

Some #s for the day.

4 papers written/rewritten.

28 pages total.

8933 words.

53,820 characters.

1 destroyed brain.

1 more paper to write tonight.

1 more test tomorrow.

Some comics stuff

I finally read through the first 13 issues of Air the other day, and was overwhelmed with 'eh.' While I think there is a pretty decent concept rolling around there, I haven't seen it explored in any real depth. A little too much mish-mashy talk about symbolism, engines that require no fuel, Amelia Earheart, and terrorism. I have read a few reviews that compared Air to the Lost television show, but I really don't understand what connection the reviewers saw. I think I am going to stop getting the singles and switch to trades. I would give it a C.

The new PunisherMAX series written by Jason Aaron with art by Steve Dillon is shaping up to be a bit of a letdown. Unfortunate considering that Dillon is one of my favorite artists of all time, and Aaron is consistently putting out great stuff. I don't like the inclusion of William Fisk as the Kingpin, because I was expecting this series to be much more like Garth Ennis' perfect run on the title. Ennis created a realistic, or at least believable, world for the Punisher to dish out justice, many times on a global stage, but with the new Aaron run it is starting to look like a normal Punisher book with some boobs and butt-rape. Art is tight and clean, as Dillon always is. I guess we will see how it pans out over the next few issues. Loving the Dave Johnson covers though! Giving it a (tentative) C+

More Jason Aaron stuff includes Wolverine: Weapon X #7. the Old Canucklehead is still in the loony bin, still unsure of who he is, still dealing with the creepy Dr. Rot. I hope this storyline picks up the pace in the next couple issues, as it's almost painfully slow. Another C+

Scalped, yet another Jason Aaron book, continues to destroy. The Hmongs are on the Rez, and Dash pulls some pretty nasty shit. This book continues to grow deeper and deeper. Every time you think you have something figured out the next page throws that out the window. I really wish that Jason Aaron was writing 10 issues of this book a month. The writing, art and coloring all go above and beyond to create a perfect atmosphere for this continuously expanding story. A+ all the way.

Read DMZ #48 today. Things are not looking good for Matty, and indeed the entire DMZ, after this issue. The solicitations have blocked the cover for the next issue, which only leads me to come to a few conclusions, none of them uplifitng. Solid issue on all fronts, like always. Cannot wait for next month. A+

Enough crappy reviews from my dumb ass.

READ MORE COMICS!!!

Writing my ass off today.

So I have been working on a couple different versions of a bio for my friends in Arliss Nancy www.myspace.com/arlissnancy and typing up a little Spider-Man thing for my buddy Chris to draw up. Having a hell of a lot of fun writing and jamming some Bookburner.

Gonna work on 81601 later and some more on a couple other things I have bouncing around in my skull.

Another Year Older...

But another year wiser? Unlikely at best.

Been out of school since 2003, and in January I will begin taking classes at Front Range Community College. Am I excited? Yes. Am I worried? Much louder yes. As much as I like to learn, and I feel that every day I don't learn many things is a wasted day, I am afraid that I will not be able to process information that is barfed up at me at high speed by people I don't know while surrounded by people 5 or 6 years younger than I am. Has my gray matter atrophied over the last 5+ years? While I am only taking 4 classes I will still be on campus 5 days a week and it is a thought I am not really comfortable with. I cannot shake the feeling that my feeble mind will be found out and paraded in front of the student body, spit on, kicked and demoralized.

Fuck.

The last several years have given me a lot to think about. I think that I made a huge mistake by moving to L.A. in 2004 and going to school for recording. While it was an experience I enjoyed thoroughly it has done me no real good. I have made no money from recording, and have in fact put myself farther in debt obtaining gear that I never get to use, as well as spending much of my personal time on projects that I have not benefited from. It is frustrating to see people who are less talented than I am making good money recording. But it is my fault because I have no real desire to market/whore myself out. My work should stand on it's own. I guess that sort of thinking is a little outdated but I won't wave my prick in front of everyone just because it might land a fish.


Fuck.

I think about shit like that and wonder what would have happened what might be if I had stayed in L.A. Maybe I would be doing very well for myself and engineering great records with important artists. Maybe I would be broke as fuck, living with 9 people in a 1 bedroom condo, built in the year 1900, paying $1000 a month for rent, working 2 or 3 jobs waiting tables, parking cars, flipping burgers.

But it does no good for me to think about garbage like that. I don't want to live in the past because it is dead and gone, a deer carcass bloated and insect chewed on the side of the road.

I may be scared about what is coming up but I have the best I have ever had right now. Alisha and Vinnie and I share a beautiful home together and we are happy. I feel loved and respected and accepted at home. I work with a great group of guys, all of whom are driven to keep kicking ass day after day after day. They live, eat and breathe tattooing and it shows in every piece they put on someone, or every drawing or painting they do. It is inspiring beyond belief to be around them every day, and I know it has helped my writing immensely to be around people who NEED something that bad.

24. Fuck I'm old now

Ugh

Seems like no matter how hard I try, nothing ever gets accomplished. Every time I feel like I am taking a step forward the Earth is actually turning and I am a mile back from where I started. Bullshit.

Day 2 after leaving ADP

Quite a lovely day today. Slept in a bit - 8:30. Hung out with Vinnie while cleaning up around the house for most of the morning. Played some COD4, went to Wal-Mart for some soda and Mike & Ikes. Watched an episode of South Park with Alisha on her lunch break. Brought Vinnie by old work to see Lindsey. Came home. More COD4.

Good day.

Week left without employment. Should be good. Much work on 81601 to accomplish.

Shazam