It Starts With You

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've written anything non-comic related, so thought it'd be nice to wax poetic on one of my other favorite hobbies; physical fitness. If you follow me on Twitter (you lovely, lovely few) you've likely seen me champion/lament my gym going habits to an exhausting degree. It's an odd pastime really, moving shit around in repetitious fashion in the hopes that some parts of you get bigger and others smaller, but it's one that's constantly talked about, particularly right after New Years. What follows is my story, how I made fitness a part of my daily routine and my reasons for doing so. This won't be a shop talk article (I'll leave that to the pros) but rather what I hope is a relatable story that will inspire or at the very least entertain. Read on!

Jeff’s Best: Comics 2013

Ah, comics, how you make me squee. As 2013 ends and 2014 begins, I feel obligated to put forth a list of my personal favorite titles from last year, if only to entice those who may not have read them to give 'em a shot. 2013 featured an astounding array of quality comics from a variety of publishers, making an official “Top 10” tough to iron out. What follows is MY Top 10, culled from the many stacks of comics I've accumulated since becoming a reviewer for comicattack.net (plug!).

SDCC 2013: A Retrospective Part III

Saturday: MADNESS PART III: THE MADDENING

Good feelings, gone.

Oh. OH. Oh God. Oh God, why… With the Saturday morning sun came one wicked hangover, as the no food/all drinks combo hit me like a brick swinging a sack of bricks into a cannon that shoots bricks. Picture any zombie from the Walking Dead getting its skull blown out, and you'll have my morning; I was in rough, rough shape and still a tad drunk. Adding further insult to injury, Nikki and Lauren were fine, peachy even! They were up and gabbing at the crack of dawn as I lay unmoving in bed, praying for the sweet release of death.

SDCC 2013: A Retrospective Part II

Friday: MADNESS PART II: MORE MADNESS.

Abort! Abort!

There’s a reason why tickets for Friday and Saturday sell out faster than all others; simply put, they’re the best. From panels to events, con action ratchets up over the weekend and this year was no exception. All of downtown SD seemed to perk up, and cosplayers in particular seemed to multiply in number. Not to be left out, the girls and I donned our Danger Girl apparel, ready to strut our con stuff.

SDCC 2013: A Retrospective Part 1

For the uninitiated, San Diego Comic Con can be a bit overwhelming. There’s simply so much to do and see, and while 5 days in paradise seems like enough, well, it’s not. SDCC 2013 marked my fifth year attending the con, and as always I was accompanied by my sister, Nikki, and my girlfriend, Lauren. 130,000 people (read:nerds) made the trip this year, and as one of those lucky few I wanted to detail a week in the life of a con-goer. Read on!

Before the storm

Life, or something like it

I need a damn job. Let me rephrase that; I need a damn new job. This isn’t the first time I’ve expressed this thought, as many of my friends and family can easily attest. I’ve been whining and complaining about my current position for years, and guess what–I’m going to do it once more. But with a twist! I need a new job, that much is still true. But my reasons for wanting to jump ship have changed. There a great many things I dislike about where I’m at, but the number one irritant at this point would have to be–life. Let me explain.

Why Not?

Well, that couple times a week promise isn't off to a great start is it? Unfortunately the blog has taken second shrift as of late, due to my new position as a staff writer for comicattack.net (plug–check it out!). While I HAVE been writing (promise!) I do need to keep up with this as well. Luckily, I have the perfect topic for my latest post.

As some of you know, I like Twitter. I'm a frequent poster of all sorts of gibberish and I follow all sorts of other gibberish spouters. Today I happened upon a series of tweets by current Batman artist Greg Capullo (that's right; I follow artists) as he engaged with some fans on a hot button topic. Basically, he made a comment alluding to artistic talent being innate, and not learned. His point was that while anyone can practice drawing, and get better, not everyone can advance their skills to the level of being an artist as an occupation. This statement was met with much derision and claims of “dream crushing,” and Capullo didn't really help himself by getting defensive and pushing back. But the end point remained; not everyone who creates will get to the top, will reach that pinnacle of success. So why bother?

The answer is in the question. Why bother working at honing your skills if you're never going to get the end result? Well, why are you working on it now? Why are you drawing, writing, dancing, designing, living? Money and status are a bonus, sure, but that's not what leads us artistic types to do what we do. We create because we enjoy it, because otherwise there truly is no point. 99% of what I write, I hate. My self confidence is a constant teeter-totter, up and down one second to the next. But the actual act of writing is a joy for me. I love finding unique was to get a point across, to generate/devastate enthusiasm, to give life to the odd thoughts and characters rattling around in my head. Will I be the best? Probably not. But I do the best I can and always try to do better because creating is what I love to do; that's my why.

So I say to those that live to create, the artists and dreamers and thinkers of the world–find your why. Find that spark, that unquenchable desire to do something and, well, do it. Who cares if you're the best. Who cares if you're number one. Just do what you love simply because you love doing it, the rest will work itself out somehow. Don't curb your passion because its hard, don't stifle your creativity because you're lazy. If you have something to show then show it and don't let anyone, especially yourself, hold you back. I was a prisoner of my own self doubt for far too long. I've broken those shackles. Can you?

Posted with Blogsy

Onward!

Short post for tonight. I’ve spent the last hour trying to figure out to successfully post using Blogsy and I’m apparently a dumb fuck. Surprise! Anyways, did some old school writing today for the first time in a while. Felt good to get the gears turning again, even if they are a bit creaky and worn. I have a semi-secret-not-really-anything-but-wouldn’t-it-be-cool-project I’m working on right now. VERY early stages, but makes me squee. Hope to get some real work done on it this week, as well as some other basic writing posts. Might even get some reviews on here! Anyways, that’s it for now. Reach for the stars, follow your dreams, etc, etc. I realize I’m talking to myself here but hey, encouragement is encouragement!

Lates,

-J

Reflection

Life is full of many trials. We're born, we grow and adapt and evolve, and then we die. It's simple science, yet sometimes science is interrupted. Car accidents, homicides, natural disasters, disease. We choose how we live our lives, yet have no control over how we die. I'm sure many philosophers have spent endless nights pondering the injustice of that fact, but when it comes down to it we as humans have a strong capacity to accept the inevitable. It's not easy, not by any means. But we sigh, we suffer, we move on. The human heart (the emotional one) is remarkably resilient; but pain and love are equal neighbors.

Begin at the beginning

Well, it’s finally happened. After weeks (ok, months) of procrastinating; I’ve created a blog. This one! And it’s about time.

So why now? This. Upon meeting a new person there’s always that inevitable question: “What do you do?” I’ve long grown tired of explaining what I do at my actual job (medical staffing, yawn) so I’ve taken to answering with what I feel I SHOULD be doing. “I write.” Ah, such a simple answer and one that doesn’t have a ring of truth. I can write; it’s why I went to school and why I have a fancy degree from a university saying I can do so passibly. But what is a writer that doesn’t write? A bird that doesn’t fly. That’s right; I’m a penguin. I like penguins, I do, but penguins aren’t going to change the world. They’re going to huddle around with other penguins, shielding themselves from the harsh realities of the outside world, and all around life will pass them by. I don’t want to be a penguin, stuck in one spot balancing an egg on my feet. Writing is my flying, something that helps pull me out of the muck and mire of daily tedium and allows me, if for a moment, to be who I want to be. This blog will be at times self-serving, others self-critical and by and large may still be ignored by the outside world. That’s fine. Right now this blog exists for ME, to put thoughts to page and to exorcise the “can’t do” and replace it with the “must.” 

The goings will be tough, the posts mostly terrible. I plan on writing about anything I so desire so don’t expect any real theme or purpose here…yet. My interests are nerdy and borderline embarrassing, but I embrace my quirks wholeheartedly and can’t wait to share them. I am not a writer; but I want to be. Consider this a small step for me, and a giant leap for, well, still me. Play times over, kids. Time to get to work.

-J