Google is being a bunch of idiots!

What the Hell is going on here? I try to get into a protected blog (which I have access to, thank you very little!) and F-ing Google can't recognize my damn password or e-mail address! C'mon you guys! You're supposedly one of the front-runners in this industry, howsabout taking a little quality control in your tech department, huh?

Goings On

Well, the biggest (or most recent) event that's happened has been learning of the newest arrival to one of my black belt students, my first student of mine who promoted to black, anyways. It's weird, I feel almost like a grandparent in some respects. The little one is very cute, and I hear is hopefully coming home soon.

Aside from that, I had the pleasure to take in a concert by the Minnesota Orchestra. We met a couple friends and attended "To Boldly Go..." a night of sci-fi themes which was narrated by George Takei (Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series). It was great, though I wish it had lasted longer. I would have liked to have heard a different set of pieces of music, but what was played was well done.

Third Quarter has begun, so now I'm in the midst of settling in and seeing which groups of students are going to need more attention than others, which are going to be self-starters, and which ones need a little prodding.

A Small Taste Of Notoriety

Yesterday was a day long in preparation for. For those not quite in the know, I have been collaborating with a group of other comic artists in Minneapolis (and some out of state) for a 3-volume project, "Muscles And Fights". Yesterday was the promotional events for vol. 2.

It started with a book signing at The Source in St. Paul, run by a staff who are enormously famous for encouraging local talent. We had three table set up for a group of about 8 artists who worked on the book. A few folks approached and asked for autographs, but most of the signing was going on between artists. When you've worked on a project such as this, you do get a bit of a juvenile "sign my yearbook" vibe going on. I've yet to run into an artist who WON'T sign anything, though. :)

Then followed the release party at Diamond's Coffee Cafe in Minneapolis. My wife and I got there almost an hour late due to a car accident clogging up the freeway. We were able to get there just in time for me to do the first of two demonstrations as party of the entertainment for the evening. I was able to have another black belt help me out to perform a Tae Kwon Do demonstration as well as a sword demonstration. It went well, and we got a lot of people approaching us afterwards to say how much they liked it.

It's a little weird being in the center of attention, but at the same time, kinda fun. I've done theater stage shows and I've had more of my share of public speaking, so I've gotten used to being in front of crowds before.

This small bit of excitement was desperately needed due to having to prepare for the end of another grading period, as well as the deprivation of sleep to finish the story for "Muscles And Fights vol. 3" in time for the deadline. In the end, it seems to be worth all the stress and aggravation that goes into it to hear people's compliments, as well as having folks seek you out to talk about your work.

I definitely need to do this more often.

All Good Things

Well, this weekend marks my return back to the school grind. The holiday break, like many before it, never lasts as long as we all wish it would. Granted, we had more time off than other districts, but it still flies by way too fast.

As to the title, I'm not mourning the passing of break so much as the anticipation of a few exciting projects I'll hopefully be involved with. Before I do, I guess I have to explain a few things to thosde who aren't in the know.

I write/draw/self-publish a little mini-comic called "Sa-Bom Jim". I've been working on it for a few years now, and am currently working on issue #7 as well as a few other projects I am involved with through a group called "The International Cartoonist Conspiracy". Yes, it IS international, being that we have a few "cells" located in Canada, eh. The group keeps expanding, and we have splinter groups that have been created in St. Paul, Rice, San Francisco, and a lot of other places.

Essentially we are a group of comic artists who get together to draw, drink, network, and collaborate on a lot of different comics projects. I've been busy this last year with two anthologies (with the third volume deadline looming), a memorial anthology, and a spotlight story featured in a spin-off series for another local artist.

Now, after that long-winded explanation.....The deadline for the next volume of "Muscles And Fights", a truly collaborative effort of artists doing short stories of characters with muscles, or characters fighting each other, "Muscles And Fights 3: Muscliest And Fightiest" is coming due on the 15th, and I am scrambling to get my submission done for that. There's another show/project called "Lutefisk Sushi C"coming up this Spring, as well as two release parties for the last two volumes of "Muscles And Fights" where I'll be appearing as not only one of the artist/collaborators, but also to do some Tae Kwon Do demonstrations for those parties as well. A lot of folks liked the one I did in July, as well as a few others that did fire-spinning and staff demonstrations.

I am so fortunate to be a part of this group, when I was living in Mankato, there was nothing like this to be found anywhere..hell, there's hardly ANYTHING of ANY SORT to be found in that town! Much like Duluth, but that's another story.....

The Approaching New Year

This next year promises to be anything but dull. I'm not saying that just because my birthday is on the first day of the year, but the approaching events that will play out as the year progresses.

The biggest event will be the election. I will vote, and encourage others to do so as well. Before that will be the ad nauseum barrage of political ads promoting this candidate and slinging mud at another. As this is just another form of combat, where the ultimate goal is to win over voters(or keep them too damned confused that they vote for you anyway), all is considered fair.

I have a few events that will be approaching, and I'll blog on them as they arise. For the most part, the days leading up to 2008 have been busy, but peaceful. I didn't quite like being awake for almost two days, but it happens every once in a while.

Christmastime.....

Well, thus ends a long and dreary marathon of work. I have now officially ended a 72 hour workweek. Yes, they suck.

This was partly due to some responsibility to myself, mostly because I need to take some time off in Jan., so I figured I may as well "pay now, play later."

I am a teacher by profession, and a security officer out of necessity. I work both jobs (though never simultaneously of course!) to help make ends meet. I would start an open rant about how the current political administration is driving us over the bend, but that would take way more energy than I'm willing to devote to right now. Don't worry, the political stuff will be flying fast and freely, especially with a major election year approaching.

The spouse and I will be splitting time between the families, as well as getting the house ready for a couple gatherings around the holidays. Gotta make sure we give equal time to both sides of the family. I can only imagine how much more hectic that may be if we ever have kids.

Anyhow, I hope any and all readers will have a great holiday season...whether it's Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanakah, Eid, or whichever holiday you hold sacred.

Peace!

A White Page Or Canvas.....

I was just borrowing that phrase from "Sunday In The Park With George", one of the few musicals that deal specifically with artists. This clearly states the beginning of this blogging thing. I have another blog for MySpace, but that's something I do every once in a while.

My friend Kris got me hooked through reading her blog, so now you all know who to blame for this.:) I figured maybe another good outlet might help me focus my energies and think creatively about my various other obligations.

Who am I? Not someone too terribly outstanding if you saw me on the street. Just another geek/martial artist/teacher/instructor/officer/husband/good friend/artist who likes to look at and comment on the human condition, as well as the conditions of humans who act less than humanely.

Once I figure out how to add pics to this thing, I'll try to brighten up these entries, until then:

Be kind.