If you haven't read the WBZ blog, checked out my emails, bulletins or posts, then let me inform you that the WBZ round 2 thread is open for PUBLIC VOTE!
Just click the title of this post to get to the thread where you will post a YES to show your support for WBZ. It also contains our Round 2 materials in the first post.
If you're not registered you will have to do that (free of course).
We appreciate all your votes!!!
I am also lettering Advent and Totem, so while you're there check them out here and here and slap down your YES vote for them also!
Thanks!
B-Out
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Lettering Updates
Since it's been a few days I figured I'd give an update on my status as of right now.
I finished up a short for Approbation a couple of days ago and look to finish the rest of those by the end of the weekend if all goes well.
I'll be finishing up The Mantis today, at least the lettering. The logo may be tomorrow.
I thankfully got an extension on Pozers until tomorrow, and I fully intend to meet that deadline as the writer has been more than patient with me.
Construct got put on hold as I'm waiting for the colors now.
Redshift for Rogue Wolf I'm looking to have done by Sunday.
I'm starting Epsilon Realm #2 next week.
Basically, I've got about 100+ pages if I counted undone, about 80 of which are priority. I look to have all of that completely caught up by the end of next week.
After that I just signed on to do three books for FE Comics starting the week after next with the first one, and I'll also have AOH #2 to do for Victor.
Lightning Squirrel #3 is a bit on hold, but the pages are still being penciled and inked anyway.
I may have a few other from a writer acquaintance as well, but I haven't heard back yet so I don't know for sure.
I'll also be contacting Arcana as soon as I can take on more.
On a related note, I will be raising my rates very soon for new collaborators. I'll most likely keep the same rates for those I've already agreed to work with unless I just can't do that anymore, at which time I'd speak with those creators on an individual basis.
I know I didn't properly mention a few of the projects, but for any creators I'm working with on lettering rest assured that I have planned everything I've got right now in the time line mentioned above.
B-Out
I finished up a short for Approbation a couple of days ago and look to finish the rest of those by the end of the weekend if all goes well.
I'll be finishing up The Mantis today, at least the lettering. The logo may be tomorrow.
I thankfully got an extension on Pozers until tomorrow, and I fully intend to meet that deadline as the writer has been more than patient with me.
Construct got put on hold as I'm waiting for the colors now.
Redshift for Rogue Wolf I'm looking to have done by Sunday.
I'm starting Epsilon Realm #2 next week.
Basically, I've got about 100+ pages if I counted undone, about 80 of which are priority. I look to have all of that completely caught up by the end of next week.
After that I just signed on to do three books for FE Comics starting the week after next with the first one, and I'll also have AOH #2 to do for Victor.
Lightning Squirrel #3 is a bit on hold, but the pages are still being penciled and inked anyway.
I may have a few other from a writer acquaintance as well, but I haven't heard back yet so I don't know for sure.
I'll also be contacting Arcana as soon as I can take on more.
On a related note, I will be raising my rates very soon for new collaborators. I'll most likely keep the same rates for those I've already agreed to work with unless I just can't do that anymore, at which time I'd speak with those creators on an individual basis.
I know I didn't properly mention a few of the projects, but for any creators I'm working with on lettering rest assured that I have planned everything I've got right now in the time line mentioned above.
B-Out
Friday, April 20, 2007
My Cousin's House
You know what they say about raining and pouring? Well, if you all remember my post about my cousin getting stabbed a while back, things just got a bit worse for him. His entire house burned to the ground consuming everything he owned. He has four kids and a grandkid and all of their belongings are completely gone. The only thing left standing was the door. No one knows how the fire got started, but a neighbor saw a red car driving away sometime during the day. It's under investigation.
If you are the praying type please pray for my cousin and his family.
Thank you.
If you are the praying type please pray for my cousin and his family.
Thank you.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Myth Conceptions
The newest one is up, this time talking about Lettering. Hope you like it.
As always, click the post title.
B-Out
As always, click the post title.
B-Out
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
More Published Lettering!
Hey all,
Not too long ago I found out that a story I lettered called Teddy and the Yeti was going to be included in Josh Howard's Sasquatch GN from Viper Comics. Well, there's a PDF preview of the book online now! The story I lettered isn't in the preview, but my ugly mug is plastered on page 98 of the 106 page preview! If you want to see the preview click the title of this post.
I'm not sure exactly when the book comes out, but I do know it's already printed, so it won't be long. You can read more about it at this blog: http://www.thisisnotahoax.com/
And you can order it from SBC! We have it listed as coming out next week, though some think it might be this week. Go here to pre-order it!
B-Out
Not too long ago I found out that a story I lettered called Teddy and the Yeti was going to be included in Josh Howard's Sasquatch GN from Viper Comics. Well, there's a PDF preview of the book online now! The story I lettered isn't in the preview, but my ugly mug is plastered on page 98 of the 106 page preview! If you want to see the preview click the title of this post.
I'm not sure exactly when the book comes out, but I do know it's already printed, so it won't be long. You can read more about it at this blog: http://www.thisisnotahoax.com/
And you can order it from SBC! We have it listed as coming out next week, though some think it might be this week. Go here to pre-order it!
B-Out
Monday, April 16, 2007
Keeping Up...
I read a friend's blog the other day about not realizing how long goes between posts when you're busy and it made me feel bad. Here I claim I update this daily (then semi-daily) and then I go for days, almost a week between posts anymore. I get the emails from my sitemeter indicating that views have drastically dropped and it makes me feel even worse. Not because I care about view counts, but because it means people are losing interest or I'm just not providing content to read.
That said, I'm going to try to do better. It's hard when you get so busy and when you get downtime the last place you want to be is the place you work, which for me is the computer. But I started this blog to connect with people, to share things - such as my projects, my thoughts, etc. - and to give updates on my work. Lately all of those have been few and far between. And I know all of you out there understand, and I appreciate that, but I still want to try to post more. So here I am.
Another friend mentioned to me recently how surprised he was at how open I am in this blog, and it's funny because in person I'm not that open. I'm a pretty guarded person actually. I'm not shy and I love meeting new people and talking and hanging out as much of the next guy. But I'm also a loner of sorts, as contradictory as that may sound. I'll put it like this. When I go home or somewhere alone that's exactly what I want to be, alone. I stay up late at night because of the solitude.
I also don't let a lot of people in. I've been hurt by a lot of people in my life that were supposedly close to me, and I guess it built up a wall. I'm not too trusting and it takes a lot to earn my trust. And except for those I'm close to I really don't talk about myself a whole lot when you meet me. If someone asks a question I'm honest because that's all I know how to be. If it's something personal I'll try to tactfully avoid the question. But I'm still a fun-loving, easy to get along with type of guy. It's just hard to get inside and become one of my very, very few close friends. It takes a long time to build that kind of relationship with me.
Which is why it's weird to hear that I'm so open. I'll be the first to admit, though, that in the written word I'm far more verbose than in the spoken word. I'm also a lot more articulate when I write. When I talk I'm just myself, and I don't use a lot of big words as it's usually off-putting to most. Maybe it's because I'm a writer, I don't know.
In any case, I guess this blog allows me an outlet that I don't really have elsewhere. I don't really have a lot of close friends that I can talk to, and you can only talk to your parents about so much. My brother's half my age, so he doesn't get where I'm at understandably. So this is my outlet, my venting if you will. On top of that it gives people a rare opportunity to get to know me better than they would if they met me in person first.
And that's the beauty of the internet. I've developed bonds with guys in different states or continents without ever meeting them in person. I feel open enough with some of them to talk about things I don't post here or talk to most people about. Without the internet these kinds of connections wouldn't be possible, so I guess technology is good for something. I never have had a lot in common with people around me and have never felt like I fit in. Now that I'm older I view that as a good thing in a way, but when I was young it was hard. But thanks to this blog and forums and so forth I can converse with tons of people who share the same interests as me and it's quite a refreshing experience, let me tell ya.
So I'm glad I started this blog a year and a half a go or so.
I have to give a quick shout out to Matt Yocum who gave me some props on his blog. I was supposed to do some lettering for him, but scheduling and computer problems prohibited it. Luckily he got someone else who did a great job. So go check out Devolution, which is a cool story too, and Matt's Devolution column!
Elsewhere in the wide world of comics, I've posted a piece on Marvel's The Initiative at SBC, which lists all the related titles in the story line that have been revealed so far through July. I'm sure there will be more to add after Marvel's solicitations go online Tuesday.
We've also gotten a whole bunch of new writers for the site who have been turning in a lot of reviews thankfully. So come check those out. We've got some great writers on board.
As for my work, I did wrap all the finishing touches on Nocturnal Essence #1 thankfully, and began working on some other stuff for someone else, though I've neglected to update the writer, so hopefully he'll read this.
Small Press Idol round 2 is underway and Scott is nearing completion on our materials for the round. He showed me I think three of our five characters inked the other day, so hopefully this week he'll get a chance to color those bad boys. I did a second draft of the bios, but we're still kicking them back and forth.
I have sadly not done any other writing in a long time. It sucks because I'm so busy I don't have time to do the one thing I want to excel at more than the other aspects of comics. But hey, ya gotta pay the bills, right?
Ending on a personal note, man I had a restful weekend for a change... sort of. Friday I wasn't feeling well (my stomach, again) and took some medication, which typically knocks me out for a couple of hours. Well, I guess being ill mixed with the medication and my near state of exhaustion just kind of teamed up on me because I wound up sleeping for over 12 hours straight! And then I was still tired, but I forced myself to stay awake and work some. Then I crashed for another 8 Saturday! Today I also slept in late and then kind of chilled and watched TV for several hours, something I rarely do. Usually I'll tape most of my stuff and watch it in spurts. But hey, it was a nice change of pace. I may not have gotten out of the house, but at least it gave me some time away from the computer, which was very welcome, and I love the computer. I'm just in front of it way too much.
I guess that's about it. It's after 5am now and I've got a busy day ahead of me, so I'm gonna chill for a bit before tackling it.
B-Out
That said, I'm going to try to do better. It's hard when you get so busy and when you get downtime the last place you want to be is the place you work, which for me is the computer. But I started this blog to connect with people, to share things - such as my projects, my thoughts, etc. - and to give updates on my work. Lately all of those have been few and far between. And I know all of you out there understand, and I appreciate that, but I still want to try to post more. So here I am.
Another friend mentioned to me recently how surprised he was at how open I am in this blog, and it's funny because in person I'm not that open. I'm a pretty guarded person actually. I'm not shy and I love meeting new people and talking and hanging out as much of the next guy. But I'm also a loner of sorts, as contradictory as that may sound. I'll put it like this. When I go home or somewhere alone that's exactly what I want to be, alone. I stay up late at night because of the solitude.
I also don't let a lot of people in. I've been hurt by a lot of people in my life that were supposedly close to me, and I guess it built up a wall. I'm not too trusting and it takes a lot to earn my trust. And except for those I'm close to I really don't talk about myself a whole lot when you meet me. If someone asks a question I'm honest because that's all I know how to be. If it's something personal I'll try to tactfully avoid the question. But I'm still a fun-loving, easy to get along with type of guy. It's just hard to get inside and become one of my very, very few close friends. It takes a long time to build that kind of relationship with me.
Which is why it's weird to hear that I'm so open. I'll be the first to admit, though, that in the written word I'm far more verbose than in the spoken word. I'm also a lot more articulate when I write. When I talk I'm just myself, and I don't use a lot of big words as it's usually off-putting to most. Maybe it's because I'm a writer, I don't know.
In any case, I guess this blog allows me an outlet that I don't really have elsewhere. I don't really have a lot of close friends that I can talk to, and you can only talk to your parents about so much. My brother's half my age, so he doesn't get where I'm at understandably. So this is my outlet, my venting if you will. On top of that it gives people a rare opportunity to get to know me better than they would if they met me in person first.
And that's the beauty of the internet. I've developed bonds with guys in different states or continents without ever meeting them in person. I feel open enough with some of them to talk about things I don't post here or talk to most people about. Without the internet these kinds of connections wouldn't be possible, so I guess technology is good for something. I never have had a lot in common with people around me and have never felt like I fit in. Now that I'm older I view that as a good thing in a way, but when I was young it was hard. But thanks to this blog and forums and so forth I can converse with tons of people who share the same interests as me and it's quite a refreshing experience, let me tell ya.
So I'm glad I started this blog a year and a half a go or so.
I have to give a quick shout out to Matt Yocum who gave me some props on his blog. I was supposed to do some lettering for him, but scheduling and computer problems prohibited it. Luckily he got someone else who did a great job. So go check out Devolution, which is a cool story too, and Matt's Devolution column!
Elsewhere in the wide world of comics, I've posted a piece on Marvel's The Initiative at SBC, which lists all the related titles in the story line that have been revealed so far through July. I'm sure there will be more to add after Marvel's solicitations go online Tuesday.
We've also gotten a whole bunch of new writers for the site who have been turning in a lot of reviews thankfully. So come check those out. We've got some great writers on board.
As for my work, I did wrap all the finishing touches on Nocturnal Essence #1 thankfully, and began working on some other stuff for someone else, though I've neglected to update the writer, so hopefully he'll read this.
Small Press Idol round 2 is underway and Scott is nearing completion on our materials for the round. He showed me I think three of our five characters inked the other day, so hopefully this week he'll get a chance to color those bad boys. I did a second draft of the bios, but we're still kicking them back and forth.
I have sadly not done any other writing in a long time. It sucks because I'm so busy I don't have time to do the one thing I want to excel at more than the other aspects of comics. But hey, ya gotta pay the bills, right?
Ending on a personal note, man I had a restful weekend for a change... sort of. Friday I wasn't feeling well (my stomach, again) and took some medication, which typically knocks me out for a couple of hours. Well, I guess being ill mixed with the medication and my near state of exhaustion just kind of teamed up on me because I wound up sleeping for over 12 hours straight! And then I was still tired, but I forced myself to stay awake and work some. Then I crashed for another 8 Saturday! Today I also slept in late and then kind of chilled and watched TV for several hours, something I rarely do. Usually I'll tape most of my stuff and watch it in spurts. But hey, it was a nice change of pace. I may not have gotten out of the house, but at least it gave me some time away from the computer, which was very welcome, and I love the computer. I'm just in front of it way too much.
I guess that's about it. It's after 5am now and I've got a busy day ahead of me, so I'm gonna chill for a bit before tackling it.
B-Out
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
New Reviews!
Here's a whole slew of reviews I've done recently:
Civil War: The Confession
Civil War: The Initiative
Dynamo 5 #1
Family Bones #5
Gamekeeper #1
Mouse Guard #6
Noble Causes #27-28
Thunderbolts #112
B-Out
Civil War: The Confession
Civil War: The Initiative
Dynamo 5 #1
Family Bones #5
Gamekeeper #1
Mouse Guard #6
Noble Causes #27-28
Thunderbolts #112
B-Out
Friday, April 06, 2007
April Snow?
Just thought I'd share that I just looked outside and, yes, it's snowing! in April.
It's been getting colder the last few days since the storm, but I hadn't heard the forecast and wasn't really expecting snow. No wonder it's so cold in here!
Guess it's a good day to be indoors working...
B-Out
It's been getting colder the last few days since the storm, but I hadn't heard the forecast and wasn't really expecting snow. No wonder it's so cold in here!
Guess it's a good day to be indoors working...
B-Out
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Myth Conceptions
The latest is up. Ironically with my column a day late I talk about delays.
Also, my column has moved to bi-weekly for the time being so I'm not consistently late anymore. At least let's hope I'm not!
Click the title to read the column.
B-Out
Also, my column has moved to bi-weekly for the time being so I'm not consistently late anymore. At least let's hope I'm not!
Click the title to read the column.
B-Out
Power Outage & More Worms!
Man, we just seem to be plagued with some bad weather. We had a really vicious storm here that knocked all the power out in my neighborhood for about 6 hours or so tonight. I thought there was going to be a tornado. The thunder was rumbling and vinyl siding was flying off of houses.
On top of that, I guess to escape the rain we had a ton of night crawlers getting through the back door. Somehow they were getting underneath the seal and through the plate glass. Man, I've gotta look up what either deters or kills the things!
I shouldn't complain too much though with tsunamis occurring elsewhere, but it was quite an aggravation and a bit of a scare. I was here alone with no car and no phone in pitch black and I couldn't find a match or lighter for candles to save my life. Luckily I finally found a flashlight, but it was not fun.
But things seem to be working properly right now, and as far as I know it wasn't too serious. So that's a good thing.
Anyway, that's what happened to me tonight in case anyone tried to reach me.
B-Out
On top of that, I guess to escape the rain we had a ton of night crawlers getting through the back door. Somehow they were getting underneath the seal and through the plate glass. Man, I've gotta look up what either deters or kills the things!
I shouldn't complain too much though with tsunamis occurring elsewhere, but it was quite an aggravation and a bit of a scare. I was here alone with no car and no phone in pitch black and I couldn't find a match or lighter for candles to save my life. Luckily I finally found a flashlight, but it was not fun.
But things seem to be working properly right now, and as far as I know it wasn't too serious. So that's a good thing.
Anyway, that's what happened to me tonight in case anyone tried to reach me.
B-Out
Friday, March 30, 2007
You Will Be Missed
Sis. Jessie, an elderly member of my church of 20 years passed away yesterday afternoon from strokes and heart attacks. She had been sick for a long while. I just found out about it this morning, I didn't even know she was in the hospital.
Ironically, my Papaw is currently at the same hospital suffering from similar problems, so it's a wonder we didn't run into someone we knew.
She was a very special lady. She would pray all the time for the church and for everyone in it. She was as kind as can be, never had a cross word to say. She was one of the truly genuine people in this world. Unfortunately I haven't seen her in quite some time, and now I'll never get a chance to. I will miss her a great deal, as will anyone and everyone who knew her. She was very special, and I know God will keep her.
God Bless you, Sister Jessie.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
PC & Printer Woes
Man, just when I think things are going good. Ugh.
It's not really that bad, at least not compared to prior issues.
Recently I had to download and install Windows Service Pack 1 & 2 (against my better judgment because they had caused problems in the past) in order to get a trial version of a program my brother needed for school to work. The download ended up eating up 5GB of my hard drive prompting me to move stuff to discs and delete stuff just to have space on the hard drive (I'll be glad when I can afford a new one!).
Well, it turns out that he can't use this version of the program because it's not compatible with the older version the school has. Sigh.
So anyway, I had to reboot today and when I did everything stopped working. After messing with it for a minute I finally got everything to come up, but I'm very tempted to uninstall that service pack bundle.
On top of that yesterday and today my internet connection has kept going out. I have no clue why as my modem shows everything working properly. So it's been a battle staying online.
And to cap things off, I had to go out and blow $60 on ink cartridges today because I needed them for a project and my brother needed them for homework. Well, the black one doesn't work! ARGH. I have to go out tomorrow and see if they will exchange it. If they don't then I'm out $30. That's what I get for buying the Office Depot brand instead of the Epson brand I guess.
So that's been my day today basically. I've been unable to get very much done today or last night at all sadly, but I'm here now, or I should say for now with the internet doing whatever it's doing.
B-Out
It's not really that bad, at least not compared to prior issues.
Recently I had to download and install Windows Service Pack 1 & 2 (against my better judgment because they had caused problems in the past) in order to get a trial version of a program my brother needed for school to work. The download ended up eating up 5GB of my hard drive prompting me to move stuff to discs and delete stuff just to have space on the hard drive (I'll be glad when I can afford a new one!).
Well, it turns out that he can't use this version of the program because it's not compatible with the older version the school has. Sigh.
So anyway, I had to reboot today and when I did everything stopped working. After messing with it for a minute I finally got everything to come up, but I'm very tempted to uninstall that service pack bundle.
On top of that yesterday and today my internet connection has kept going out. I have no clue why as my modem shows everything working properly. So it's been a battle staying online.
And to cap things off, I had to go out and blow $60 on ink cartridges today because I needed them for a project and my brother needed them for homework. Well, the black one doesn't work! ARGH. I have to go out tomorrow and see if they will exchange it. If they don't then I'm out $30. That's what I get for buying the Office Depot brand instead of the Epson brand I guess.
So that's been my day today basically. I've been unable to get very much done today or last night at all sadly, but I'm here now, or I should say for now with the internet doing whatever it's doing.
B-Out
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Raining and Pouring
It's storming pretty bad here right now, fork lightning, scary house-shaking thunder and torrents of rain. The lights have already flickered, so if I go MIA today at all you know why. Just a heads up for all you out there.
B-Out
B-Out
Mid-Week Medley
Sorry for the lack of updates, busy, busy as usual.
I'm wrapping up the lettering on Nocturnal Essence #1, though I still have a few tweaks to do.
I'm also finishing Pozers #2 tomorrow (with any luck). Then I'll have The Mantis and the Advent logo to work on before diving into bigger projects.
I am going to try my best to finish a first draft of the WBZ #0 script and new character bios by Friday or Saturday if all goes well.
SBC Reel was missed Monday, but will be back today (Wednesday technically) super-sized and with my review of the Battlestar Galactica season 3 finale!
Speaking of SBC, things are still going good over there. I'm still enjoying it and getting to talk to a lot of creators through it. Look for some great features upcoming including interviews with a Disney legend, Larry Hama, Jeph Loeb and more!
My cousin, Jay finally joined the MySpace craze and has a page up. He's listed as one of my friends, so you can find his profile there. Though it may be hard to spot him. We don't exactly look that much alike. :)
Got some books from Virgin Comics today to review. One of them is next week's Gamekeeper by Guy Ritchie, so I'm looking forward to checking that one out.
On TV, Prison Break is ending for the season next week, which just reminds me all my shows will be ending soon. BSG, now Prison Break, soon Lost and so forth. But at least Heroes is coming back in a couple of weeks!
I haven't read The Hobbit for several days now due to time. When I do have free time I'm usually not reading right now because a big part of my job requires reading, so sometimes I need a break!
As far as Small Press Idol goes, well the site is down pending money being raised to switch to a new server, so everything is stalled. Sigh. Looking at the bright side, it gives us all a little more time to prepare for round 2!
Speaking of which, finally saw some new stuff from Scott and let me tell ya it's looking good!
I guess that's about it. Everything else is pretty average around here.
B-Out
I'm wrapping up the lettering on Nocturnal Essence #1, though I still have a few tweaks to do.
I'm also finishing Pozers #2 tomorrow (with any luck). Then I'll have The Mantis and the Advent logo to work on before diving into bigger projects.
I am going to try my best to finish a first draft of the WBZ #0 script and new character bios by Friday or Saturday if all goes well.
SBC Reel was missed Monday, but will be back today (Wednesday technically) super-sized and with my review of the Battlestar Galactica season 3 finale!
Speaking of SBC, things are still going good over there. I'm still enjoying it and getting to talk to a lot of creators through it. Look for some great features upcoming including interviews with a Disney legend, Larry Hama, Jeph Loeb and more!
My cousin, Jay finally joined the MySpace craze and has a page up. He's listed as one of my friends, so you can find his profile there. Though it may be hard to spot him. We don't exactly look that much alike. :)
Got some books from Virgin Comics today to review. One of them is next week's Gamekeeper by Guy Ritchie, so I'm looking forward to checking that one out.
On TV, Prison Break is ending for the season next week, which just reminds me all my shows will be ending soon. BSG, now Prison Break, soon Lost and so forth. But at least Heroes is coming back in a couple of weeks!
I haven't read The Hobbit for several days now due to time. When I do have free time I'm usually not reading right now because a big part of my job requires reading, so sometimes I need a break!
As far as Small Press Idol goes, well the site is down pending money being raised to switch to a new server, so everything is stalled. Sigh. Looking at the bright side, it gives us all a little more time to prepare for round 2!
Speaking of which, finally saw some new stuff from Scott and let me tell ya it's looking good!
I guess that's about it. Everything else is pretty average around here.
B-Out
Myth Conceptions
The latest is up! It's not what I promised last week, but I think you'll get a kick out of it anyway.
Click the title as always.
B-Out
Click the title as always.
B-Out
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Segue
Scott D. M. Simmons, artist of WBZ, gave me a birthday present, and what a present it was. He found an image of one of my characters from my first and beloved superhero team and drew up a sketch of her for me! You can see his artistry below. Segue of the Night Riders!
Thanks, Scott!
B-Out
Thanks, Scott!B-Out
Myth Conceptions
The new one's up! This week Scott D. M. Simmons, artist of Wannabez, joins me to talk about art from concept to print. Click the post title to read the column.
B-Out
B-Out
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
20s No More
Well, it's official. This is the day. I am no longer in my 20s, having crossed the threshold into a new stage. For today I am 30.
Though there is some debate over which day it is, the 20th or the 21st (I've heard both), I'm considering today also the first day of Spring. I am told the year I was born the 21st was the first day of Spring, and it's a story I'm sticking to. How awesome of an idea is it to be born on the first day of Spring, when new life is thought to begin? It symbolizes a fresh start and a new beginning, a new chapter in life. So what could be more fitting than that, I say.
Purely coincidentally this day, and technically this post marks my 500th post on this blog! It wasn't planned or premeditated, it just sort of happened that way. No big announcements to share per se, but isn't being my 30th birthday and the first day of Spring enough cause for celebration? I say it is.
And yes, you read that right. I said celebration. Not necessarily for turning 30, but for it marking a new era and fresh start, and beginning the rest of my life, as of course every day should and does whether we want it to or not.
Contrary to what you may have derived from previous posts, turning 30 never bothered me. It's a number, and it means one more year older. That doesn't bother me. My whole ordeal was being where I'm at by this age, not being this age. There are goals I have not yet met that I certainly thought would have been met by now. And there are things I was hoping would have changed for me by now, but haven't.
But this is not a day to think on those things. Those details are concerned with the past and what could have been, whereas today is a day of looking forward and opening oneself to the possibilities of what lies ahead. So it is with that that I embark on a new journey to discover not what could be, but what can be, at least for the day putting aside concerns over what lies in the path blocking those things, but concentrating on those things themselves. Those goals, dreams and aspirations that lie just over the horizon, just beyond the obstacles, just a few steps away, however large those steps may be.
This is a day of rejoicing for the good and positive things that have come to pass in my life thus far. For the people who truly stood by me, for the accomplishments I did achieve, for the steps that were taken, and for the love I have received.
Fifteen years ago, half my life ago, my brother was born. He has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my natural life thus far. I helped raise him and we formed such a bond between us that I had never experienced with another human being. Now he is in those teenage years, soon to be 15 and is into his own things and somewhat distant like all teenagers can be. But that bond still holds strong, and he is still the best thing to happen to me yet aside from God being in my life of course.
At 16 I had my first girlfriend, first serious relationship and first kiss (I was a late bloomer in the looks department - kind of awkward before then). It was an experience I will forever cherish regardless of how it all turned out.
I also had my first job at that age at Chuck E. Cheese's. Yes, I even donned the suit and danced a jig once or twice.
And I graduated high school this year as well. Long story, and I did end up having to go back for three months the following year to make up some tests.
At 18 I got my license (long story), which opened up an entirely new world to me. I could now take myself wherever I wanted to go. And I mostly went alone as everyone was too scared to ride with me!
18 is also when I accepted the call to preach, a call that has been sidetracked a few times over the years, but one that has not been forgotten by any stretch of the imagination.
On my 21st birthday there was a church outing - a get together at a gym where there was food, basketball, skating and other fun stuff. I didn't go instead opting to sleep in. It was my day after all, and the church I had been at since I was 8 had only remembered one of my birthdays up to that point, that being my 16th. So I decided I wouldn't be missed and would have more fun being by myself. Turns out I was missed as my pastor's daughter, a girl I had previously been crazy about for a number of years, but hadn't for a couple went all out. She made me a cake and dressed up in one of her best outfits at the time and made a big deal out of it. I hear she was pretty ticked I didn't show up, but she never let me know it. I still grin about that when I think about it. :)
One week later I started college (struggled for several years figuring out what I was going to do). I should have went to a more specialized college, maybe art or maybe a college that offered degrees in English or graphic design, but I went to a business-centric school where I studied Computer Science and ultimately Business Administration. I hated both and still do to this day, but it was not a waste. While I didn't go hog wild and party I did meet a few very special friends in those days. I've lost touch with them now, but they were great friends at the time and I couldn't have made it through without them.
At age 24 I got my first real job making more money an hour than I had ever made, and that's stayed pretty consistent since only with a couple of deviations. I absolutely hated the job with a passion, but I met some of the best friends of my life there. Again, I've fallen out of touch with them for a number of reasons, but they are the ones I miss the most. They showed me the kind of friendship I had shown others but had never really received myself. They were very special to me.
It was also this year that I went to Florida looking at apartments heavily considering moving there, both for work and because there were opportunities there, creative opportunities, that I wanted to explore. Ultimately reasons kept me where I'm at, but that was the funnest year of my life.
I also dated a girl this year that started off as a hangout buddy, and while we parted ways she was the best girl I have had the pleasure to have a relationship with to date. She was one of the kindest and sweetest persons I've ever met, and she thought the world of me. Sadly we were at different places and it didn't work out, but I'll always cherish the time we spent together.
At 26 I "preached" a benediction for a graduation service. Two of my Sunday School students were graduating high school, one who I'd known since she was a year old. It was a very moving moment for me to be able to deliver this. I choked a little, but all in all it went pretty well.
At 27 or 28 I did a video in one of those booths to a soundtrack at Kings Island (an amusement park in Ohio) and it was played for everyone there to see. I got some amazing feedback from it and even dropped the jaws of some family members. I had only previously sang in church, and mostly not alone. So they hadn't really heard me sing before that point. It's a moment in my life I'll never forget.
Nothing really significant or memorable has happened past that point that I immediately recall, though I'm sure there's at least one or two things I'm forgetting. But there were good times then as well.
Today is a new day to explore new things, to move on and move up and stop looking back. Those mentioned are the kinds of moments I wish to remember on days like this, and the countless little moments that happened in between.
So again I say, this is a day of celebration. To celebrate life, to celebrate opportunity, to celebrate change, hope, love, passion, dreams, desire, faith and so much more. For those reasons I rejoice in this day that the Lord hath made. I embrace the newness of life and a fresh beginning. I accept the challenge to go above and beyond, and to cling to the same hope that has brought me this far.
Today is my birthday.
B-Out
Though there is some debate over which day it is, the 20th or the 21st (I've heard both), I'm considering today also the first day of Spring. I am told the year I was born the 21st was the first day of Spring, and it's a story I'm sticking to. How awesome of an idea is it to be born on the first day of Spring, when new life is thought to begin? It symbolizes a fresh start and a new beginning, a new chapter in life. So what could be more fitting than that, I say.
Purely coincidentally this day, and technically this post marks my 500th post on this blog! It wasn't planned or premeditated, it just sort of happened that way. No big announcements to share per se, but isn't being my 30th birthday and the first day of Spring enough cause for celebration? I say it is.
And yes, you read that right. I said celebration. Not necessarily for turning 30, but for it marking a new era and fresh start, and beginning the rest of my life, as of course every day should and does whether we want it to or not.
Contrary to what you may have derived from previous posts, turning 30 never bothered me. It's a number, and it means one more year older. That doesn't bother me. My whole ordeal was being where I'm at by this age, not being this age. There are goals I have not yet met that I certainly thought would have been met by now. And there are things I was hoping would have changed for me by now, but haven't.
But this is not a day to think on those things. Those details are concerned with the past and what could have been, whereas today is a day of looking forward and opening oneself to the possibilities of what lies ahead. So it is with that that I embark on a new journey to discover not what could be, but what can be, at least for the day putting aside concerns over what lies in the path blocking those things, but concentrating on those things themselves. Those goals, dreams and aspirations that lie just over the horizon, just beyond the obstacles, just a few steps away, however large those steps may be.
This is a day of rejoicing for the good and positive things that have come to pass in my life thus far. For the people who truly stood by me, for the accomplishments I did achieve, for the steps that were taken, and for the love I have received.
Fifteen years ago, half my life ago, my brother was born. He has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my natural life thus far. I helped raise him and we formed such a bond between us that I had never experienced with another human being. Now he is in those teenage years, soon to be 15 and is into his own things and somewhat distant like all teenagers can be. But that bond still holds strong, and he is still the best thing to happen to me yet aside from God being in my life of course.
At 16 I had my first girlfriend, first serious relationship and first kiss (I was a late bloomer in the looks department - kind of awkward before then). It was an experience I will forever cherish regardless of how it all turned out.
I also had my first job at that age at Chuck E. Cheese's. Yes, I even donned the suit and danced a jig once or twice.
And I graduated high school this year as well. Long story, and I did end up having to go back for three months the following year to make up some tests.
At 18 I got my license (long story), which opened up an entirely new world to me. I could now take myself wherever I wanted to go. And I mostly went alone as everyone was too scared to ride with me!
18 is also when I accepted the call to preach, a call that has been sidetracked a few times over the years, but one that has not been forgotten by any stretch of the imagination.
On my 21st birthday there was a church outing - a get together at a gym where there was food, basketball, skating and other fun stuff. I didn't go instead opting to sleep in. It was my day after all, and the church I had been at since I was 8 had only remembered one of my birthdays up to that point, that being my 16th. So I decided I wouldn't be missed and would have more fun being by myself. Turns out I was missed as my pastor's daughter, a girl I had previously been crazy about for a number of years, but hadn't for a couple went all out. She made me a cake and dressed up in one of her best outfits at the time and made a big deal out of it. I hear she was pretty ticked I didn't show up, but she never let me know it. I still grin about that when I think about it. :)
One week later I started college (struggled for several years figuring out what I was going to do). I should have went to a more specialized college, maybe art or maybe a college that offered degrees in English or graphic design, but I went to a business-centric school where I studied Computer Science and ultimately Business Administration. I hated both and still do to this day, but it was not a waste. While I didn't go hog wild and party I did meet a few very special friends in those days. I've lost touch with them now, but they were great friends at the time and I couldn't have made it through without them.
At age 24 I got my first real job making more money an hour than I had ever made, and that's stayed pretty consistent since only with a couple of deviations. I absolutely hated the job with a passion, but I met some of the best friends of my life there. Again, I've fallen out of touch with them for a number of reasons, but they are the ones I miss the most. They showed me the kind of friendship I had shown others but had never really received myself. They were very special to me.
It was also this year that I went to Florida looking at apartments heavily considering moving there, both for work and because there were opportunities there, creative opportunities, that I wanted to explore. Ultimately reasons kept me where I'm at, but that was the funnest year of my life.
I also dated a girl this year that started off as a hangout buddy, and while we parted ways she was the best girl I have had the pleasure to have a relationship with to date. She was one of the kindest and sweetest persons I've ever met, and she thought the world of me. Sadly we were at different places and it didn't work out, but I'll always cherish the time we spent together.
At 26 I "preached" a benediction for a graduation service. Two of my Sunday School students were graduating high school, one who I'd known since she was a year old. It was a very moving moment for me to be able to deliver this. I choked a little, but all in all it went pretty well.
At 27 or 28 I did a video in one of those booths to a soundtrack at Kings Island (an amusement park in Ohio) and it was played for everyone there to see. I got some amazing feedback from it and even dropped the jaws of some family members. I had only previously sang in church, and mostly not alone. So they hadn't really heard me sing before that point. It's a moment in my life I'll never forget.
Nothing really significant or memorable has happened past that point that I immediately recall, though I'm sure there's at least one or two things I'm forgetting. But there were good times then as well.
Today is a new day to explore new things, to move on and move up and stop looking back. Those mentioned are the kinds of moments I wish to remember on days like this, and the countless little moments that happened in between.
So again I say, this is a day of celebration. To celebrate life, to celebrate opportunity, to celebrate change, hope, love, passion, dreams, desire, faith and so much more. For those reasons I rejoice in this day that the Lord hath made. I embrace the newness of life and a fresh beginning. I accept the challenge to go above and beyond, and to cling to the same hope that has brought me this far.
Today is my birthday.
B-Out
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Last Day
Well, here it is, the very last day of my twenties. I can't believe it still. Tomorrow I cross over into a whole new era in my life. Not much to say about it and I don't feel up to waxing philosophical this morning. I don't really feel anything at the moment.
I'm not going to talk about it anymore, at least until tomorrow. :) It just is what it is, for better or for worse, or for the same as it was it is, I don't know. lol. All I know is that while I'll feel no different physically or even mentally, psychologically it registers with me that there is a significant change, and I'll leave it at that.
So, I wish I could say I was going out with a bang, but truth be told I'm just chillin' at the house, working, lettering, watching TV (American Idol, woo!) and just the same ol'. Tomorrow will most likely be the same. And I'm fine with that for now. It's no big deal and I don't really want it to be a big deal. :)
And with that I leave you all until tomorrow when I have to start putting a 3 in front of my age instead of the 2 I have become accustomed to over the last ten years.
So long, twenties, we had good times and bad times, we made friends and lost friends, we took opportunities and missed opportunities, we won some and lost some. And such is life.
B-Out
I'm not going to talk about it anymore, at least until tomorrow. :) It just is what it is, for better or for worse, or for the same as it was it is, I don't know. lol. All I know is that while I'll feel no different physically or even mentally, psychologically it registers with me that there is a significant change, and I'll leave it at that.
So, I wish I could say I was going out with a bang, but truth be told I'm just chillin' at the house, working, lettering, watching TV (American Idol, woo!) and just the same ol'. Tomorrow will most likely be the same. And I'm fine with that for now. It's no big deal and I don't really want it to be a big deal. :)
And with that I leave you all until tomorrow when I have to start putting a 3 in front of my age instead of the 2 I have become accustomed to over the last ten years.
So long, twenties, we had good times and bad times, we made friends and lost friends, we took opportunities and missed opportunities, we won some and lost some. And such is life.
B-Out
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Quick Update
Sorry for the lack of updates the past few days, been busy. Yesterday I finished up a preview issue of 3rd System (lettering), which is one I completely forgot about. That one's now just pending any possible corrections needed and applying the letters to the final colors when they're done.
Later tonight I'll be continuing lettering Pozers #2. Right now I'm prepping DC solicitations for www.silverbulletcomics.com tomorrow as well as several other solicitations I've yet to post. These are pretty time-consuming to format and every one that comes in is different. Even though they are the biggest, the Marvel and DC ones are actually the easiest to format, but still take a while (especially since I have to convert all the images to RGB for web). The indies usually send high res images and very strangely formatted text, so those take a while to get just right.
Tomorrow I start on Nocturnal Essence #1 (lettering). And sometime this week it'll be AOH #2 and 6 pages and a logo for The Mantis. That's as far ahead as I'm looking at the moment so as not to overwhelm myself.
Tomorrow I have the usual postings on the site as well as any news that trickles in from WWLA (we didn't have anyone there doing coverage sadly) and then I have to help my cousin with a Civics project tomorrow afternoon. So it'll be a busy, busy day tomorrow.
I've yet to write that WBZ #0 script, and I HAVE to make some time to do that in the next couple of days. Round 1 is coming to a close in the contest and we need to get that script ironed out for round 3. I'm told our round 2 stuff is coming along, but Scott hasn't had a chance to show me anything yet.
And that's about it I guess. I'm still reading The Hobbit, about 125 pages in or so and still enjoying it.
Anyway, back to it...
B-Out
Later tonight I'll be continuing lettering Pozers #2. Right now I'm prepping DC solicitations for www.silverbulletcomics.com tomorrow as well as several other solicitations I've yet to post. These are pretty time-consuming to format and every one that comes in is different. Even though they are the biggest, the Marvel and DC ones are actually the easiest to format, but still take a while (especially since I have to convert all the images to RGB for web). The indies usually send high res images and very strangely formatted text, so those take a while to get just right.
Tomorrow I start on Nocturnal Essence #1 (lettering). And sometime this week it'll be AOH #2 and 6 pages and a logo for The Mantis. That's as far ahead as I'm looking at the moment so as not to overwhelm myself.
Tomorrow I have the usual postings on the site as well as any news that trickles in from WWLA (we didn't have anyone there doing coverage sadly) and then I have to help my cousin with a Civics project tomorrow afternoon. So it'll be a busy, busy day tomorrow.
I've yet to write that WBZ #0 script, and I HAVE to make some time to do that in the next couple of days. Round 1 is coming to a close in the contest and we need to get that script ironed out for round 3. I'm told our round 2 stuff is coming along, but Scott hasn't had a chance to show me anything yet.
And that's about it I guess. I'm still reading The Hobbit, about 125 pages in or so and still enjoying it.
Anyway, back to it...
B-Out
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