New stuff out!

It’s been a while, but I’ve got a story out this week. It’s in Image’s THIS IS A SOUVENIR: THE SONGS OF SPEARMINT & SHIRLEY LEE OGN. Artwork by Robbi Rodriguez, color by Russ Lowery and words by me. I’m pretty pleased with the story we adapted, so run out on Wednesday, (or is it Thursday this week because of the holiday? Your local comic shop will know) pick up a copy and then come back and tell me how brilliant we all are. Deal?

Frankie Get Your Gun

My de-factor little bro, and sometimes partner in crime, Robbi Rodriguez just posted some pages from his creator-owned book Frankie Get Your Gun.  Head on over to his blog and tell him how great it is.

On the Road Again…

Headed down Austin-way tonight to spend the weekend with two of my favoritist people in the world, John and Mindy Lucas.  Should be a blast and a much needed break from my own life.  Been a rough week.

Work on a couple of projects is picking up as the writing is getting easier and easier.  Now let’s just hope I have something to say and that I can say it well enough to get people to depart with their bill money.

Call me…the Muffin Man!

Made some blueberry muffins from scratch this morning.  Turned out great!  Who knew?

Long day today of dressing mannequins, writing, exercise and cleaning.  Strangely, I’m looking forward to it.

Back inna loop!

After my techno-exile, I’m back on the interwebs.  Facebook, Twitter and Myspace all have accounts.  Find me and make me your friend.  Let’s share recipes and talk about that bitch at work that has it out for you.

Today’s Music – Gaslight Anthem, Buzzcocks, Buddy Holly, Ryan Adams & Andrew Bird.

Is this thing on?

Settle in, this may be a long one…

For the people that follow this thing, and you know who you are, I’m back.  For better or worse.  A literal shit-ton has gone down since my last post, but I won’t bore you with the details.  Suffice to say some major life changes and upheavals, both good and bad, have happened to your humble narrator.  Don’t worry, I’m doing well and am getting everything back in order.

Been listening to a ton of music lately, and not just the same ol’ stuff.  Branching out.  Being more mature in my listening pleasures.  Of course, loud, raucous punk still makes it way to my earholes on a daily basis, but I’m not adverse to chilling out to something more soothing.  Hell, I’m even listening to David Bowie now.  Here’s my most recent iTunes Genius playlist (scary how these things tend to reflect exactly how you feel…)

1. Wish You Were Here – Ryan Adams

2. One Many Guy – Rufus Wainwright

3. Show Me a  Little Shame – Ben Harper

4. Thirteen – Ben Kweller

5. My Two Feet – The Old 97s

6. Ramshackle – Beck

7. Aurora – Foo Fighters

8. This Is It – Ryan Adams

9. Top Yourself – The Raconteurs

10. Please Me Like You Want To – Ben Harper

11. California – Rufus Wainwright

12. True Love Way – Kings of Leon

13. Your Nervous Heart – Rhett Miller

14. Until I Die – Ben Kweller

15. Weapon of Choice – BRMC

16. Happy Alone – Kings of Leon

17. A Kiss Before I Go – Ryan Adams

18. Woman in You – Ben Harper

19. Stoned – Old 97s

There you have it.  If you’ve got any suggestions for bands or artists I should be listening to, please let me know.

Pitchers and catchers have reported, and that means my favorite season – baseball – has arrived.  My beloved Braves are still putting a couple of pieces in place, but, if health permits, they should be a lot more competitive this year.  I am going to try, however, to not watch over 150 games this year.  I think just 100 Braves games may do it.

I’ve been busy at work, friends.  I realize nothing has come out lately, but there’s a ton of stuff in the pipeline.  I’ve got a story in the new Image music anthology that’s due out at anytime.  It’s called THIS IS A SOUVENIR: THE SONGS OF SPEARMINT AND SHIRLEY LEE.  Based on the songs of a Brit pop band.  Robbi, Russ and I (the genuises behind Hero Camp) contributed a story titled “Oklahoma.”  Had a lot of fun doing and I hope you folks pick it up.

Can’t really go into detail on the other projects that I’m working on as they are in various stages of development, but I can give you a list of names – Missing Link, F.R.E.A.K.S., Lonesome Town, Sparta, Hatfields v. McCoys in Space!, Leech, Raygan’s Eight, The Mighty Galactoids, Hero Camp, Atomic Chimp and the Rocket Rangers, Hard Luck Hero, Salvation, Troubleshooter, Thick as Thieves and a screenplay ta boot! Like I said, various stages of development and I honestly have no idea when, or even if,  any of these will ever see the light of day.

I think that’s enough for now.  I’ll be back soon. Tell your friends.

Done…For Now

Not going to be blogging for a while, at least until I have something blogworthy.  There ya go.

New York – The City That Wants To Sleep

One of the things I genuinely love about this city is changing.  When I first moved up here, I was completely enamored with the fact that I could stay in a bar and drink until 4 AM.  Nevermind the fact that the facists had already decreed I couldn’t smoke, being able to stay in a bar until almost daylight more than covered for that miscue.  Now it seems that the powers-that-be in the city want all of us hard-workin’, honest drunks to be in bed a little earlier.  A 2 AM shut down for weekdays seems to be the norm for anyone applying for a new liquor license. 

 You may say, “But Daddy, my town shuts down at 2 AM, so I don’t see what the big deal is.”  Well, my little cherub, the big deal is, to coin a phrase, THIS is New York FUCKING City.  The Big Apple.  The City that Never Sleeps.  Unfortunately, it’s going the way of LA.  And that’s sad.

For more info, go here – http://nysun.com/news/new-york/4-am-last-calls-could-be-headed-way-smoky-bars

Required Reading

Literally just finished Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.   Anyone that knows me knows I’m a techno-tard.  Hell, I can’t even sort my email.  This book has a lot of techno-geek stuff in it that should have turned me away, but Cory’s such an amazing writer that it didn’t matter.  Seriously, I’m not going to get all reviewy here – I personally hate reviews.  Just tell me if you liked it or not.  I can make up my own mind – but I highly recommend this book.  It’s like cramming Catcher in the Rye and 1984  ass-end into each other.  It should be taught in schools. 

While you’re at it, pick up Cory’s Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom as well.  It’s a really fun read.

Comment problems and social networks

Some of you may have noticed that some comments were deleted.  That’s my fault.  Daddy had a metric SHIT-TON of comments to mark as spam, and the computer kept timing out.  More spam.  Me no likey.  Good buddy Jonathan came in and updated the software so that I could view only a few comments at a time instead of the whole kit and caboodle.  What I didn’t realize is that after all the crap, the previously approved comments could be amended as well.  So I accidentally deleted a bunch of posts.  I’m sincerely sorry.  Daddy loves you all and wants your comments.  Needs them.  Like a fat kid needs cake (thank you, Fitty Cent, for that one nugget.  Now go away.)

It’s also been asked where I’ve gone on MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites.  Well, I closed them all down.  They take up too much of Daddy’s time, dearhearts.  Time I could spend, I dunno, maybe writing?  Perhaps one day I’ll return, but, as for now, this meager blog will serve as my portal to the internets. 

In summation, I screwed the pooch royally on the comments, and I’m off social networks.  There ya go.