forty-eight plus one

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: Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star, Sonic Youth (palate cleanser after Bette fucking Midler)

forty-eight

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: Experience The Divine, Bette Midler (because I hate myself, apparently)

last day of forty-seven

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: Experience Expanded: Remixes & B-Sides, The Prodigy

soccer

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: An Exciting Evening At Home With Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego, Beastie Boys

lazy day

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: Evol, Sonic Youth

well, that was… better

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: Evil Empire, Rage Against The Machine

and home

And not productive.

This is one of those days where no matter what I touch, it’s kind of fucked.

You know the days.

Days that hate you.

Like today hates me.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

But Trump still runs the U.S.A., so probably not.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 730 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Black Science 11, Deadly Class 10-11, Low 6
Music: Everything Went Black, Black Flag

the one day in the office

Yeehaw, called in sick Monday so we could take the grandbaby out for waffles, and yesterday was a stat day, so only one day in the office.

Now, if only my laptop bag didn’t smell so horribly like cat pee.

My life is one walking travesty after another, punctuated by brief moments of joy that I can barely enjoy.

Depression’s a monster.

The black dog sucks the joy out of everything.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1888 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Black Science 10, Low 4-5, Deadly Class 9
Music: Everything Under The Sun, Sublime

canada day

What a difference a year makes.

I may be an anarchist looking for the total responsibility of total freedom at heart, but I’m also a firm believer in compassion and community.

And if I had the choice of country to live in, Canada could hardly be a bad one, despite what assholes like Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre would have us become.

So, happy Canada Day to those that celebrate and for those Canadians who consider a lying, narcissistic, fascistic con man somehow a better representative of goodness than the millions of Canadians would rather just be nice to one another…

Fuck you.

If you love the States and Donald Trump so much, go there. Get the fuck out.

You hear me, Danielle? How about you, Pierre?

Get the fuck out.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1196 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Deadly Class 7-8, Low 3, Black Science 9
Music: Everything To Everyone, Barenaked Ladies (it IS Canada Day, after all)

well, that was exhausting

But, congratulations to my youngest niece, now a high school grad and on her way to the big time.

Honestly, we couldn’t be any more proud of her and her sister.

We’ve watched them grow up, had them over weekly, as much as possible, since they were wee, and to have had that bond with them has been so incredible. It’s been really nice that they still wanted to, right up until they’re off for college.

We genuinely assumed that like most teenagers, by the time they hit high school, at least, they’d be too cool for us. But my wife and my younger niece have forged a wonderful bond, and even though we don’t talk as much as we used to, the elder one and I have always had similar interests (heavy readers, obscure music, etc).

Sometimes, change kinda sucks.

But I know it’s going to be exciting for them in their futures, and I hope to god, it’s not turned into a living nightmare by someone who doesn’t give a fuck.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1213 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Agent To The Stars, John Scalzi
Comics: Black Science 7-8, Low 1-2
Music: Everybody In The Place, The Prodigy