Category: personal

sidewaysssss

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That’s how things have gone today. Tomorrow doesn’t promise to be much better.

On the plus side, I’m almost done planning for the new draft (with a few sidetracks) of Bad Neighbours.

I expect to be editing within the next week.

Hopefully, I can get something done while we’re away.

Working on time, instead of word count, has it benefits and detractions – it requires a set butt-in-seat time, and hitting a word target for me usually takes less time, unless I’m making notes like I’ve been doing, then it’s a combo, and takes longest of all.

Freeform works best; editing is the middle road.

Agonizing over the specific word, is it strong enough? Is it accurate? Am I being too precious?

Am I precious?

Or am I nothing at all?

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1307 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Poorhouse Fair, John Updike (speaking of precious)
Comics: Death Or Glory 1-2, Deadly Class 34, Black Science 36
Music: End Of Days Soundtrack, Various (but mostly Sonic Youth)

old friends, part deux

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These ones we see more often, but it’s been a year since I went.

Not my favourite group, but they are what they are, and my stepdaughter loves them, and my wife and the mother get along very well.

The dogs will enjoy it; being out on the patio is always fun for them.

Especially when there’s french fries, am I right?

These pups are spoiled silly.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1230 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Poorhouse Fair, John Updike
Comics: Black Science 34-35, Deadly Class 32-33
Music: End Of A Century, Blur

old friends

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Even if they’re not mine, it’s nice. You’ve been through enough together that it can be a nice, genuine evening.

Or fraught, if the relationship was a perilous one.

My wife has seen both ends of that spectrum this week, and honestly, it’s so refreshing to be around people without all the weird family politics or selfish interests.

You’re just catching up.

It’s nice.

People should be nicer to each other.

Less fighting. Less either/or.

More us and.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1389 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Grass Is Singing, Doris Lessing
Comics: Black Science 31-33, Deadly Class 31
Music: End Hits, Fugazi

misheard lyrics

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It happens all the time (there’s a bathroom on the right, anyone?)

The worst one I can think, for myself, was my confusion (and when it comes on the radio I still hear it) over Poker Face by Lady Gaga.

I mean, I know, ostensibly, that she’s saying P-P-P-Poker Face, but no matter how many times it comes on, or how hard I listen, it still sounds like F-F-F-Fuck Her Face.

And that’s not a slight, even though I think Lady Gaga is vastly overrated. It’s just how it comes across, every time.

No matter how much I try, how I tell myself what it actually is, it still sounds the same.

We hear what we want to hear, I guess?

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1146 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Grass Is Singing, Doris Lessing (it's keeping my interest, but man, so bleak)
Comics: Seven To Eternity 8-9, Low 19, Deadly Class 30
Music: Empty Glass, Pete Townshend (tell me about it)

forty-eight plus one

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And we’re back in the office.

And the office is making it very difficult to get done all the things I need to get done.

I need to get the Mungk in more hands.

I need artists, letters, colourists, an editor for Romance and Western Cradle.

I’ve more or less resigned myself to including the poetry and short stories in with The Mungk (well, maybe not the poetry – once I have enough of those, I may just do a volume of it).

But The Mungk – it needs to be seen. Romance, it’s just a calling card of a comic to build fans, a free giveaway I can hope someone enjoys, and then recognizes the creators later when we put out other stuff.

Western Cradle though – I think it’s good. It may be kind of rape-heavy, which sucks, but if we do it right, draw it right, it could be very, very strong.

But for now. The Mungk.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1141 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: A Study In Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle
Comics: Deadly Class 25-26, Seven To Eternity 4, Black Science 27
Music: Eminem Essentials, Eminem

forty-eight

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My health fights my ambition.

My depression fights my motivation.

I’m not sure which is winning.

Happy goddamned birthday.

I’d like nothing more than to go back to being twelve, with the knowledge I have now, and do things the right fucking way.

Then again, would I have all this?

Or would I have opted for the easy way out that time?

Would I have followed Matt into heroin and other hard drugs?

Would I have done something even dumber than the things I already did?

It is hell to be at war, whether it’s with others or yourself.

The dichotomy must die.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1562 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey
Comics: Deadly Class 23-24, Seven To Eternity 3, Black Science 26
Music: Emigre, Anti-Flag

last day of forty-seven

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Tomorrow, I’ll be forty-eight years on this earth.

And given how my neck, shoulder and stomach feel today, I have lived all of them quite poorly.

At least, in all likelihood, I’m better than halfway through.

Closer to the end than the beginning, that’s for sure.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1307 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey
Comics: Seven To Eternity 1-2, Deadly Class 22, Black Science 25
Music: Elvis Presley Essentials, Elvis Presley (can't go wrong with the king)

soccer

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I love watching Wrexham, but I don’t get the obsession.

The World Cup is basically watching paint dry. Who wants to watch the greatest players in the world go for ninety minutes and end in a nil-nil tie with three shots on goal… TOTAL.

Fucking paint drying might drip or something.

There could be streaks!

That would be more engaging, by far.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1875 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Cruise Of The Dazzler, Jack London
Comics: Deadly Class 16, Low 10, Black Science 17-18
Music: Elliott Smith, Elliott Smith (I think it's a pseudonym)

lazy day

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Finally.

Good Lord, finally.

Time to make some gazpacho and pipirrana and mail the rest of the day in.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1207 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Cruise Of The Dazzler, Jack London
Comics: Black Science 16, Low 9-10, Deadly Class 15
Music: Ella Fitzgerald Essentials, Ella Fitzgerald

well, that was… better

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Heeeyyy baaaby,,, it’s the ffifth of jullllyyyyyyyy!

Something about Mexican children and fireworks.

Thanks, X.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1095 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Deadly Class 13-14, Black Science 15, Low 7 
Music: Elephant, The White Stripes