Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt. 6 of 8

He tried them all, the rockets, ropes, and radio missiles, but each one failed in turn, adding to the man's fury, making him burn in the sun's light. In his hopelessness, he pulled out his gun and began to fire into the sky, screaming and screaming, until his voice gave out and his gun ran dry.

Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt. 5 of 8

He planned and schemed, working out the details, going through the math, coming up with a way to pull the sun from the sky, shoot it, explode it, shatter it into thousands of pieces.

Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt. 4 of 8

The sun replied, "Do not be angry with sun. It is not sun's fault that sun is so radiant. Sun cannot help what sun was made to be." But the man did not listen, grumbling as he went home, vowing and plotting revenge.

Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt. 3 of 8

So he cursed the sun, cursed its beauty, cursed its warmth, cursed its un-ending happiness.

Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt. 2 of 8

When he finally turned around to take her in his arms and ask if it was beautiful, he stood alone. The absence made him notice the burns on his skin, the spots in his eyes, the smell of dry earth and dead plants.

Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts Pt 1 of 8

Once upon a time, there was a man too blinded by the beauty of the sun to notice what lurked in the shadows. He'd spend his days staring at the sun, thinking she was right behind him, waiting for him, basking in the warm light and smelling the fresh cut grass.

Surprise!

Rather annoyed that I didn't see Indiana today, but it's all good. Whooped my family at Scrabble in two games. I hope for a third.

Anyway, don't want to bore you all with the trivialities of family vacations, so I'll just tell you that starting Monday is my BIG SURPRISE.

I've put together a small illustrated story for you that will update beginning Monday and run THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY. Yes, you will get not one but two extra blog updates from yours truly. Anyway, the story is called "Shattered Suns and Broken Hearts." I realize this sounds like the titular track of some crappy emo band, but I assure you that the story is rather good. It was fun to write and illustrate. Plus, it gave me a reason to use the tablet a bit more. Anywho, enjoy, and I'll be alive and kicking once the story runs its course.

The Joy of Family

It's amazing how things just sort of pick up where you leave off, even if you haven't seen your family for months or years. The way you can just talk about whatever: dying grandparents, going crazy, leche de hombre, space docking, and any other embarassing thing you can think of, so your mother shakes her head and wonders what kinds of crazy beasties she brought into the world. It makes me rather frightened to think what it will be like when I have little miniature versions of myself and my wife. If it's true that you get paid back in kind for the terror you were as a child... man... I'm screwed.

Otherwise, I'd forgotten how nice it is to be away from the city, far from all the traffic noise and street lights and sirens. Just the cool howl of the wind, the star-filled sky, and the distant burble of a river. It's a good feeling, good peace, calm.

Don't think I'm going to be able to hit up Indiana Jones today. It saddens me, but I might be able to fire a gun and fly a plane. I'll probably get knocked out on my ass. And my brothers probably won't let me live it out, but when I'm half their size... whatever.

I Like Vacation

Got up, had some breakfast (craptastic, undercooked French toast), went for some swimming. Good times. Work is stupid. Though I will say that I tend to get more accomplished at work, since I'm stuck there and have to do something to make the time go by.



Like the rest of the nation, I've got plans to see Indiana Jones (I'm tired of linking this, just go to one of my other blogs) tomorrow. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it's hard not to. Its rare that you get the same team on a sequel 19 years after the last film. Hopefully it all works out, though I suppose even if it sucks, Cate Blanchett should still be hot.



And for those of you that need something to do while you kill time before the flick, I've got a new comic up. Another week in a row. I'm rather proud of myself, especially since I'm on vacation and all. We'll see if I can keep this up.



I'll try and rant more about the travelings and the family tomorrow. Plus, on Friday, I'll reveal my big surprise.

Ready to Get the Balls Out of Lincoln

And I'm not talking about a vasectomy or any such thing. It's just a crude way of saying that I'm going on vacation, and you'll come to realize that I'm a fan of the vulgar phrases. While I try not too use to much profanity in my normal vernacular, it does leak into my fiction and comics. I do this when it feels necessary, because every now and again, you just need a good "fuck."

Okay, so if you're still with me, I tip my hat and thank you for pressing on. I thought about linking the above phrase, but I fear what I might find if I type such a thing into Google.

Anyway, to get back to my original rant, I'm about to head off to Phoenix, Arizona, where I will be spending the next few days with my two brothers, step-sister, neice, and mother. The only thing I have planned for the trip is seeing yon Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Sure, I've heard that it is only so-so, but seriously, who DOESN'T want to see this? Other than that, I plan on some chilling--as much as Arizona allows--and a bunch of reading and writing. There is only a little over a month until my residency, and I've got a wee bit o' work to do to get a good draft of my current novel. Perhaps I'll throw up some excerpts when my life is boring and I have nothing witty to say.

I've tried to plan it out so that my trip will not change my update schedule, and honestly, I'll probably be updating even more, since I'll have things to say, and I've got a surprise up my sleeve.

See you in Phoenix.

Weekend Recap

What a weekend. Seriously, the weather was gorgeous; I spent some time in the outdoor world, blanketing it up on the grass and hanging out with some sleeping friends (and writing a first draft of a soon-to-be revealed project (more about this as the time gets closer)); and I polished it off with a heaping dose of Indiana Jones.

I can only imagine how many more of you spent your Saturday or Sunday doing the very thing I did: marathoning the first three Indiana Jones. This time through--especially with the back-to-back viewing--I realized what it is that bugs me about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It just doesn't feel like the other two films. The tone is all out of whack. There is no humor in the violence. Sure the opening sequence seems to set us up with our familiar Indy, but soon enough, the whole thing shifts, and we've got voodooed Indy slapping around Data from The Goonies. It's a rough ride no matter how you look at it, but it's made all the worse when it's sandwiched between the other two films. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Temple is bad not because of the addition of the "Sidekick", or the overwhelming annoyance of Wilhelmina, it sucks because the tone has gone to the dark side--thus losing the Indy charm. I can only hope and pray that Lucas has not ruined the fourth installment by this, or some other means, since his credibility has been dropping wanning.

In other news, I saw Prince Caspian on Friday and was once again disappointed, but this time for different reasons. You can read my review--when it goes live--here.

Mostly movies in my weekend, though I did get a few art projects together, including a new webcomic for Wednesday. Once I get a few things sorted out, I'll try and provide some links to my other art. Until then, take it easy.

I Failed Myself

So after my long and gushing rant about my elation of finding a new--I think--Russian (mayhap Kazakhstan?) rap group, I forgot to purchase the thing. If I wasn't typing, I'd be shaking my fist in the air. I suppose I can stop for a quick moment.

Alright, I'm back. It was a good shake, mighty in fact. Anyway, I don't have much to report on this closing out of the week. My hands are flaking from a sunburn I received almost two weeks ago, and if I had claws, I'd look like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Speaking of movies, I've already got my tickets for the first showing of Prince Caspian. Once again, I am very excited, though with the disappointment I suffered from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I'm still rather wary of the new Narnia installment. Most likely, I will have the same problems with this one as I did with the first--it was too dern shiny, the special effects looking all glossy and extra fake, with the exception of Aslan. Regardless, I am seeing the film at 12:15 today and will have a full review up at Filmmedium within the next few days.

I also have Wednesday's comic together, so I will be continuing my new schedule of once a week for the Filmmedium comic, what I like to call "We've Got Brains." Once again, I completed the whole thing using my friend's Wacom Intuos tablet. I must procure one of these, and soon. With my government Economic Viagra bonus, I was going to buy ToonBoom, so I could--finally--put together some of the animations that have been swimming around my noggin, but it will have to wait. The tablet must be mine!

That should be it until Monday. Hope you all have a glorious weekend, and be sure to check back next week, and keep an eye out for my Caspian review.

Does This Make Sense to Anyone Else?

I've come to believe that there are malevolent filing demons in our heads. Seriously, I don't have any other explanation for the way our experiences get sorted out and stuffed into some cranial corner, only to be plucked out at random by some slimy beastie that wants nothing more than to annoy us off for the day. This said beastie decided to pluck a media file from my head and let me relive the great history of a time in which Encino Man was the coolest flick around. And while I can't blame the film--how could I, it has Brendan Frasier, Sean Astin, AND Pauly Shore in his prime--I will forever shake my fist at the bald noggins of Right Said Fred. After an hour of wandering about the house, strutting my stuff, and repeating the song like some demented Macaw, I forced myself to download the track and ease my need for "I'm Too Sexy."

Having slated my craving, I--big surprise--got bored at work and started googling random bits, one of which led me to a music search site. This wonderful searching tool allowed me to stumble upon this band.

For some reason, I've become rather obsessed with foreign hip-hop/rap over the years. In terms of the American offerings, I can't help but shake my head with sadness, wondering how anyone could see/listen to this and think, "Yeah, that's awesome." Though there are a few bands that fill my syllable craving stomach: this one, and this one, and this one. Back to my original rant, I stumbled across the gloriousness of the afore-linked rap artist, which prompted me to continue my search. I googled Russian Rap groups and found a list of artists. I then went to a Russian sponsored MP3 site and was UNABLE TO LOCATE A SINGLE ARTIST. Tell me, please, how does this make any sense? A Russian site that does NOT offer Russian rap artists... Whatever sense it does or doesn't make, it pisses me off. In the meantime, I will rock out to my "Crap" album and smile, wondering what my file demon will dredge up next.

This Could Be the Beginning of Something Historic...or a Complete Waste of Time

It seems only right to welcome you all to the first blog and to introduce myself, but there are many things in this world that "seem" right, though you are probably better people for never having done them. My introduction to me will be contained in each and every one of these posts, each one a little glimpse through a stained window into the hidden parts of me that should probably not be viewed in open light--and definitely not under a microscope.

The real reason that I decided to start today--besides taking that first step off the giant jagged cliff of personal drive--is that I actually have a few things to write about. No, it wasn't some life-changing revelation that I had. No, it wasn't some messed up dream about moose playing Wii. No, it wasn't some breath-taking moment of real life that made me stop, reassess what it is that makes me take each and every lungful of air. I watched two movies and posted a new comic and a review for Speed Racer.

First, I watched my first Indian/Bollywood film, Saawariya. Still not sure what I think about such things. I'm not a fan of musicals to begin with, then with some of the over-the-top, rather ridiculous acting, I wasn't sure if I could even make it through the film. But, man, this is one of the most gorgeous films I've ever seen. Story, acting, zaniness aside, this is one fine looking film. Plus, the story can be alright--as long as you can get past the head jiggling and over-exaggerated facial expressions. In the grand scheme of things, I would watch another Bollywood film, but not anytime soon: I need a bit of a breather.

The other film I watched was Tekkonkinkreet. Normally, I don't watch Anime. Normally, the American culture that swarms around the stuff does nothing but piss me off and embarrass my small shred of patriotic identity. But as one of my friends aptly put it, "Anime is just like anything else, when it's good, it's good." And this one is good. Almost amazing, in fact, but the end --as with many things lately--looses some steam. It's still worth a watch though, even if it's just for the animation: It has quite the style. Plus, the characters are simply wonderful. Anyone would be hard pressed not to fall prey to White's charisma. It's worth your time. Trust me. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd put together a full review for the thing, but alas, I suffer the bouts of sloth.

That being said, wish me luck as I start out this new endeavor. Sometimes I feel like I'm stretching myself to thin, taking on too many projects and ending up frustrated because I don't have any time for each one.

I suppose that is where this thing will come in handy, both exposing myself further to the web world and giving me one more excuse to ignore my real work.

Until tomorrow...