Fireworkin’

Shaky handholds of the Madison, WI fireworks display taken July 3rd 2009

unsaid

There is so much stuff for me to write here. I’m hoping that I will start posting something at least once a week, starting either tonight or tomorrow night.

Shooting Cars

I’ve started to develop a love of taking pictures of classic cars.

Not really a surprise since grew up around my Dad fixing great old rides. I wish I had pictures from some of the restorations that he did back when I was far too young to know how to operate a camera. Not that I could have slowed my brain down long enough after the latest GI Joe beating at the hands of my older brother to actually have taken a picture.

There are so many great details to capture on the lead sleds of 50’s. Not to mention, every car says something about the owner. Hard to find that individuality in modern cars, not that it’s not possible it’s just that most to most people, it’s a just car. Generally people who own and drive classics drive it for a reason.

Maybe their parents had one or just some cool guy in town ran around in one when they were growing up. I know guys that drive Cadillacs because they were the ultimate status symbol.

Every time I see a great classic, some times even a beat up, rusty one, it brings back memories of running around the shop as a kid. I have my doubts that this will turn into anything but shooting the occasional cool looking car I see parked on the street, but it’s fun to pour over the details.

Maydelay

So my Internet and cable have both failed as I was starting the idea of posting something “everyday in May”
Fate has conspired against me but when I’m back up and running there will be a mass of catch up posts as I am unshaken by internet failure.

there is much to consider…

Lots of stuff rattling around in my skull and keeping me from posting here.
I’m putting the comic together and sketching out ideas for the weekly comic strip idea. Actually I think finding a name for the strip is going to be harder than drawing it.
It’s strange all of the things you have to consider before launching into a project. There is obviously the “look” you are going for but as I sketch out character designs I’m also thinking about the title, the introduction tot he characters, how they will interact with one another and their personalities will affect the story I’m telling each week. For that matter what story am I telling?
I’m trying to draw inspiration for the main characters and the supporting roles from the people around me; “write what you know”, they say. So that will be fun, maybe it will keep some people guessing as to who they are in the strip or if a conversation we’ve had is going to pop up. Trust me it will only be the funny moments and the weird discussions.
On top of all the previously stated crap there are the artistic choices, how do I make it different, easy to replicate week in and week out, do I go from blueline to ink or pencil to ink (it makes a difference, trust me), hand lettered (time consuming, and personal) or digital lettering (fast; leaving time for other things), and one of the final things is the format, standard comic strip or do I do something funky?
So that is a fraction of the stuff keeping from this blog.
Oh and one last thing to consider, What the FUCK are these peoples names?

random thought

I feel a serious drawing session coming on.

this could be a very productive weekend.

Now I need a black coffee IV. STAT!

Real Mean Motor Scooter

So on Friday night I said good bye to my first motorcycle.

It now resides in Illinois with a very nice woman who was incredibly excited to win the bike.

It started it’s life as a factory 2004 Sportster 883. After a season of riding, with my brand new Class M license in my back pocket I put on a lot of miles that first year. But during my time in the saddle I kept thinking about what I could do to make the bike “mine”. I would come home after a ride and write down ideas, look stuff up on the internet and watch about every motorcycle show that flicked across the tv screen.

So in the winter months, as most riders do, with the help of my Dad I took apart my still very new motorcycle. In a few short months things really started to take shape from the ideas that I had in my head. Was it going to be a Chopper, Bobber, Flat Tracker, Board Tracker? What color was it going to be? Every time I would go out to the shop my Dad had done some little thing to the bike to help me along and make it as cool as I thought it could be. I think he was as excited as I was. He was also pretty happy that his kids first motorcycle was a Harley. I also think in the end it was a Bobber, no that it mattered, cause it was mine.

As the cutting, sanding, fabricating, painting, and the myriad of other things that voided the warranty went on in the shop I saved every spare dime I could to buy the few parts that I just didn’t have the knowledge, or equipment, to make myself. So eventually May came around and it was all hands on deck (also known as Jason and I) to get the bike put back together so i could ride in the ever improving spring weather.
I rode a ton that spring, summer, and fall. Making pedestrians flinch from the loud exhaust and fellow motorcycle riders ask me what the hell it was. Every time it made me smile. I knew that my vision and my Dads skills had made something very special.
But now it has gone down the road with a new owner that I hope loves it as much as I did for the years that I owned it. The memories of working late nights in the shop with my Dad are worth more than I have words for.

Oregon Trail

So I didn’t really want to say anything about it here until it had been a little bit, but I finally quit smoking.
As of this point it’s been a little over a week and I feel good. It was time, I had been smoking for about 14 years after all. I’ve tried to quit in the past but life usually pulled me back to it. Times of high stress, like school and break ups were hard to deal with and I fell back into the creature comfort of smoking.

So now I’ve developed the habit of chewing on sticks (I’m told it’s better for me).

I was sitting in the tattoo chair and Jon Boy told me about these Australian Chewing sticks he was using to help him quit smoking. So I sauntered down to the local Co-Op and purchased a few. I had 2 packs but I gave one of them to my little Brother since he’s quitting with me.

So with the help of these little guys I’ve been smoke free for over a week. I’ve gone longer in the past and still slipped back but something is different this time. I feel differently about it. I’ve already noticed that food tastes better and things have a more robust smell, actually smoking smells awful to me now. But I’ve cleaned my car and put away my Zippos. I would get rid of them but they are all rare and 2 of the 3 I own are comic book collectors items. The 3rd was a gift from my Brother. Incidentally, if anyone has ever bought you a lighter for a present, you smoke a lot.
So here I sit; on the wagon.

Look and Listen #4

Great animation. It clocks in at about 7 minutes but it’s a great watch.

I’m also in the middle of doing some thumbnails and research for the cover of the comic and while I’m doing that I’ve been listening to a lot of Spoon. I love this band! Check’em out.

Shaneology

Let others know a little more about yourself, re- post this as your name followed by “ology”

* * * * * * * * * * * FOODOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * *****

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Red Wine Vinagrette

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Tornado

What food could you eat everyday for two weeks and not get sick of?
Eggs. They are so versatile

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate

* * * * * * * * * * * TECHNOLOGY * * * * * * * * * * *****

How many televisions are in your house/apartment?
2

Do you have a laptop?
Yes.

Do you have a desktop?
No

Do you have an MP3 player?
iPod Touch

What is your favorite piece of technology currently?
My Xbox 360

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * *****

Are you right – handed or left- handed?
Right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Wisdom teeth and my birth mark

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Motorcycle fender

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Nope

* * * * * * * * * * * *STUFFOLOGY* * * * * * * * * *****

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yes. It would be freaky but I would know how much time I had to get everything done.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I wouldn’t. I wanted to change my name to Brian when I was little.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
As soon as I saw the cash.

* * * * * * * * * * * * DUMBOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * * *****

How many pairs of flip flops do you have?
Zero

Last time you had a run- in with the cops?
I guess a week ago when they found my car.

Last person you talked to?
Chris

Last person you hugged?
Little bro

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * FAVORITOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * *****

Season?
Spring

Holiday?
I consider my birthday a holiday.

Day of the week?
Saturday

Month?
June

* * * * * * * * * * * CURRENTOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * *****

Missing anyone?
Friends

Mood?
Calm

What are you listening to?
Rev Paytons’s Big Damn Band

Watching?
Saving Private Ryan

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RANDOMOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * *****

First place you went this morning?
Corner Store for Red Bull

What’s the last movie you saw?
Watchmen

Do you smile often?
Not really

Do you always answer your phone?
90% of the time. Sometimes you just don’t want to talk to who’s calling.

Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Ryan

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Blue. Complimentary to my hair.

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Strawberry

Do you own a digital camera?
Yeah but I want a new one.

Have you ever had a pet fish?
We had a huge aquarium when I was a kid.

Favorite Christmas song(s)?
I hate christmas songs

What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
A night out with as many friends as I can.

Can you do a chin up?
Yes indeed.

Does the future make you nervous or excited?
Excited. I have a lot of things looming on the horizon

Do you have any saved texts?
Nope, they got lost with my last phone.

Ever been in a car wreck?
7 total. 3 cars never made it home but I never had more than a small scratch on my head

Do you have an accent?
Nope

What is the last song to make you cry?
Don’t think I’ve ever had a song make me cry.

Plans tonight?
Watching TV and drawing.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
About a month ago

Have you ever been given roses?
Yes

Current hate right now?
Trying to give up smoking.

Met someone who changed your life?
A lot of people.

How did you bring in the New Years?
Rocking out at the bars.

Name 3 people who might complete this?
No clue.

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
Yes, I would love to go back to the Renaissance.

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yea

Do you have any tattoos/ piercings?
5 tattoos, 1 piercing

Does anyone love you?
I hope my family and friends do.

Would you be a pirate?
It’s a pirates life for me.

What songs do you sing in the shower?
None

Ever had someone sing to you?
Nope

Do you like to cuddle?
Depends. temperature plays a lot into it.

Have you held hands with anyone lately?
Nope

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
My brother Chris

Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Old

Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Nah

What is something your friends make fun of you for?
No clue.

Have you ever ridden an elephant?
No.

Do you like to play Scrabble?
It’s fun but I’m terrible

When is the last time you ate peanut butter and jelly?
A couple days ago. It’s a favorite.

What were you doing 12AM last night?
Watching a movie on the couch with a beer.