So. Its been a while since updating, I guess. As previously mentioned, I took some time off to concentrate on the book. And how’s that going? Well… I still have a month left at least.
Aside from the book, I worked a bit more on the new game I’ll be heading up in the coming month, mostly background research. I’m still not going to say much more other than it’s based upon a rather prominent character, but one that’s become a bit muddled and unfocused, sorta like how comic book characters can get saddled with baggage related to wonky continuity over time. So my game will try to give the character a reset of sorts.
But otherwise, the past week hasn’t been terribly exciting. Though last night was, kinaa; I got into a heated exchange with a crack whore.
I had just returned from the city, it was late, I knew there was no food waiting for me in the fridge, and everything was closed. Which meant another trip to White Castle. Waiting inside was said crack whore eating a burger. This was one of those strictly take-out only places, so there are no seats, meaning she was eating in-front of the cashier. Which meant that she was already in the way, therefore I was immediately annoyed the second I saw her. Crack whore noticed this and words were exchanged. Mind you, the part of me that goes “easy… she could have a shiv” was offset by the fact that the place is right next to a police station. Anyway, the management got sick of her when she decided to light up a cigarette. I got in at least one good line: “The pre-crack cig smoke, eh?”
Okay, so that’s sorta non-eventful as well. Sorry.
As for other semi-interesting happenings and developments…
- I’m actually in a lot of pain. Two days ago I woke up with some slight discomfort in the left knee. Then yesterday it full-blown hurt like hell. Tried seeing my regular doctor, but he’s on vacation, plus his office sucks anyways, so I’m in the market for a new general practitioner. And aside from my knee, I also need to get this weird spot on my right ear lobe checked. I don’t know what the fuck it is, but it appeared as a tiny black dot a few weeks back, but has since grown and changed color, I think. MK can’t stop starring at it, which is driving me nuts. Plus it could be skin cancer or something.
- So my doctor is out of town, and my hairdresser is MIA as well. I think she’s sick or something. Hope she gets better soon, because I really need a haircut, bad. Hence why I may finally take up an offer from a friend of my roommate’s; my roommate is a fine artist, and all her friends are artsy-fartsy as well. One in particular likes to cut people hair, and give them “art cuts”, whatever the hell that means. May as well… Hey, free haircut.
- Back to my knee: despite the discomfort, I decided to walk down to movie night last night after work, for some bizarre reason. That meant trekking from 21st to way down the southern tip of Manhattan. Near the end, both legs were killing me; hey, I need the exercise; all this sitting around, toiling on the computer has seriously made me a lard-ass… hence why I didn’t feel like killing time at by surfing the net after work. So now my hold body is sore, especially the legs. And I gotta be on my feet all tomorrow night too (more on that in a bit).
No movie last night, just clips and shows. Watched a few scenes from Elmer Gantry, a classic Burt Lancaster flick where he plays a crazy, hot-headed minister, a few sketches from the Best of Ernie Kovacs, and key scenes from various movies featuring Mako, who passed away the other day. Most of my friends probably know him best as the ominous Asian voice in a number of cartoons, like Aku from Samuri Jack. Anyway, it meant a chance to check out some Conan the Barbarian. As for shows, watched episodes of Slings and Arrows, Deadwood, and Danger Man, an old BBC spy show which I had no idea was direct precursor to the Prisoner, one of my all-time favorite classic shows; aside from the same actor, its the same exact character and universe.
- Speaking of movies, I’m way behind with this year’s summer line-up. Still haven’t seen Cars (the one person I know who loves Pixar AND automobiles enjoyed it, so I’m certain I will as well, even if no one else did), Nacho Libre (which I hear is great, but truth be told, I’ve had my fill of pro-wrasslin’ cinema-wise thanks to the Asian Film Fest), Pirates of the Caribbean, and Strangers With Candy (though since Dave’s back from San Diego, I guess I’ll be checking that one out soon). Though MK & I did see My Super Ex-Girlfriend this week. And it was actually pretty good! It’s nothing brilliant, and fairly by the number in certain regards, but it was still lots of fun. Anyone who’s interested in super heroes is going to enjoy the basic premise, plus the acting is pretty terrific; Uma Thurman plays the psychotic gf with total perfection. Enough to illicit the biggest laugh of the whole evening, which wasn’t from the movie but from some guy in the back who went “Oh snap! That bitch is crazy!!!”
And as a super hero flick, it trounces all over Superman Returns, though that may not be saying much.
- Speaking of movies and comic books, and as also previously mentioned, I didn’t spend hardly any time online last weekend to concentrate on the book (which felt nice btw), so I didn’t keep abreast of all the news that broke during the San Diego Comic Con. But I do know that Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus Prime will be reprising his role in the new live-action film! YES! That doesn’t mean the film is automatically saved and will kick ass, but at least its a small sign that at least one person working on the movie truly does care. Also found out how the new special edition re-release of the animated film will be widescreen, which is really odd since every ?expert? thus far has claimed that no such version existed.
- Speaking of cons, and as also stated earlier, I’m going to Otakon the weekend after this, to finally check out the freakshow I’ve heard long about (more than one person has already told me that its basically the same crowd from ICON, even crazier, but all anime). That and show support for MK’s new book of course. Unfortunately, during my self-imposed internet black-out, I totally missed the cut off for pre-registering, which means I’ll have to get tickets on-site. And I keep hearing how last year the line was about 3+ hours long, and how 4,000(?!?!) people got turned away. Great. And unlike the NY Comic Con, Ric ain’t going to be there this year (he’s heading to China to interview some master of kung fu, no doubt for some new Asian cinema book of his) so I can’t mooch of him.
- Back to comics: I’ve come to realize that with, again, due to the book, I’ve become a bit burnt out with video game as of late, so I’ve decided to rekindle my love of the other finer things in life. Movies being one, and comic books the other. Specifically super hero books. I dunno why, but I’ve always been sorta embarrassed about my interest in such things in front of MK; unlike most dudes, I can flaunt and don’t have to hide my love for comics in front of my gf, since she digs them as well, but given that MK’s strictly into the indie, small-press stuff (though she does read some Vertigo titles), I always felt a little weird about it… Though I’m pretty open about my love for Iron Man; back in the day, when he was really cool, he was just like Batman, in the sense that its some crazy rich guy who decided to be a hero, but even cooler since he was also a drunk.
Hence why I’m so happy that I’ve made a new comic book buddy at work! I’ve recently become friends with one of the maintenance guys who’s really into the Marvel/DC stuff, which I’ve been eternally interested in, but just haven’t had the time/money/guts to dive in head first, and who’s gonna be lending me stuff. First up is the new Marvel summer event-book, Civil War. This is just like when I was working at Medieval Times and one of the sales guy would lend me every book he’d buy at. Carlos, the maintenance guy, also has a heavy habit, and blows about $150 month on books. Once again, had to choose between comic books and video games to spend all my time and money on, and in the end, Sonic beat out Spider Man (thanks to that shitty clone storyline).
But hey, I’m still into the small press stuff; I just finished up Girl Stores by Lauren Weinstein, which is pretty fucking rad (I’m also still proud of how her comic making class at SVA dug my Cheap Ass Mr No Penny story the most, over all the other minis she showed them).
- And speaking of my own comics: while paying for a top-loader NES that I bought from some guy at Insert Credit (more on that when I finally get it I guess) via PayPal earlier this week, I realized that people had paid for my mini’s, like months ago, and I never knew, so their money was just waiting there! Fuck, isn’t PayPal supposed to send out notifications and the such?!
- So its Thursday, I’m here at work as I type this, and I’m thinking of just taking off and heading into Jersey. MK right now is selling Italian ices at some state fair and mentioned that if I wanted to, I could work there as well. Last night I ended up chatting with some woman who I guess runs the place and who’s become friends with MK and she mentioned that’s loads of stuff I could do, like sell cotton candy or help run the bumper cars or something. Sounds like fun. I’ve always wanted to work at a fair, ever since I hung out with this one girl in college who used to, and was on acid for almost every second of it (btw, whenever I say I hung out with a girl in college, it means that I secretly lusted after her).
Its so bad that at a time when I need to buckled down and get shit done, I just want to get out of the city and enjoy some fresh air, especially since NYC has been especially fucking shitty hot and humid these days. Or as Mike (O’Connor) put it best: “REALLY FUCKING HOT HOLY SHIT I HATE SUMMER” weather. I was originally supposed to head to WildWoods this weekend to join up with Joe (Simko) and June, but bowed out due to the looming deadline. At least I have the Jersey shore near NK’s neck of the woods.
- Then I figured I could simply have some drinks with Steve (Totilo) tomorrow, but then I totally forgot about the Silver Mt. Zion/Black Ox Orkestar show in Willamsburg that I’m checking out with Mike and Joe (Salina) which is also this Friday night. So as “penance”, Steve instructed me to check out his latest story at MTV news and to check out the accompanying video (which you all should as well). Some might recall how I hung out with him at the Sega/Yakuza event right afterwards a few weeks back.
- As for Saturday, once again I should really be doing some work, but I might take a break and check out a chiptunes show at The Tank that night. It’s the first one that I can recall ever to not feature either Josh or Jeremiah on the card. Truly bizarre… But hey, Virt‘s playing, so it will still be awesome. Plus, I think its the scene of a NYC-IC meet-up, and those are always interesting. And one of the gals showing up is in a sketch comedy troupe, and will be part of the Del Close Marathon that’s happening this weekend at the UCB, so I might catch a bit of that this year as well.
So yeah, I guess there’s still Sunday to get work done. Though (hopefully) by then, I should have the entire run of Liquid Television finally downloaded (I’ve had the torrent running since Tuesday).
… Oh, and perhaps I should also finally mention that this weekend I will finally get the chance to meet face to face with an internet stalker of mine! I’m actually pretty excited. Long story short, there’s this one guy who’s been sending rather nasty emails for a while now, but recently he had a change of heart and confided in me that he’s rather jealous of my success and wishes really bad that he was me. He literally said “You have the life I MUST have” or whatnot. This person has also told me that if given the opportunity to meet me in person, he would assault me. I’m seriously not making any of this up.
Anyway, let’s see what happens. Maybe nothing will go down. Or maybe a fight might take place. Perhaps he’ll be totally nutso and try to kill me? Who knows.
So this might be my very last entry. I do have various video game related links to pass along, but I guess I’ll wait till next time, if a next time exists (hey, I gotta milk this situation as much as can, simply because, aside from it being surreal and hilarious, in the end, nothing is probably going to happen). But real quick, remember the N64 kid? Well, he’s all grown up.
