Stephen King

Per my daughters request, may I present my, "Stephen King"....

The Blog is Back...Again.

Me: Hello visitors! I say, "visitors", because apparently this blog has no followers...Really??

Blogosphere God:: Yes, really.

Me: DOH!!! But I have a lot of visitors??

Blogosphere God: You need FOLLOWERS

Me: Well, I guess, if I had a link on my blog, where people could subscribe to my blog, maybe I’d have some followers??? (It’s a vicious circle).

Blogosphere God: Well, hopefully.....Don't quit you day job.

Me: TA-DA!  I have now solved that problem and quitting the day job (eventually)!

If you look to the right of this post,

you’ll see I've set up a link so that you can now easily subscribe to my blog. So if you like what you see, please follow me….Of course, if I continue to have no followers??? Well, we’ll file that under future concerns.

I'm back from Spring Vacation 2017, feeling well rested and ready to conquer the biosphere!! Of course, I went to my Mecca (Las Vegas) and Los Angeles (I love L.A.!). So grab some popcorn, let’s start the slideshow and I'll show you a few highlights of last weeks journey…

The highlight of the Vegas trip, was our nighttime flight over Vegas.

Given the fact that I combined my love of  flying with my love of Vegas...this experience was a “can't miss” and it wasn’t. It was so worth the $100 per ticket, that I’ll probably do it again in the future. The experience was 10 times as cool as it looks and it looks really cool! The experience was provided by Maverick Helicopters of Las Vegas http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/ Hell, just avoid the slot machines for an hour and you’ve paid for the helicopter flight. Besides you can always go gambling when you get back to the casino (LANCELOT SLOT MACHINE, YOU MAY HAVE ONE THIS ROUND...BUT WHEN I RETURN TO VEGAS, I WILL OWN YOU!!!!)

A few more highlights...

A room with a view!

Raiding the Rock Vault!

Hard Rock - Elton!

Hard Rock - Freddie Mercury

Hard Rock - Johnny Cash

Our visit to LA began at Universal Studios Hollywood. This theme park kicks the mouse's ass!! The highlight for me was everything, although my favorite was The Simpsons attraction. If you’re as big a fan of all things Simpsons, as I am, this is a MUST SEE!!! Besides the fact that you get to visit Springfield (don't forget to eat at Krusty Burger!!) the Simpsons ride is amazing!

Our second day in LA was in Simi Valley, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Whether you we’re a admirer of the former President (and I definitely am) or not, the history contained in the library is amazing. Do yourself a favor and plan a visit on your next journey to Southern California.

And finally for this post...Do yourself a favor and visit my amazing daughter, Kristina’s, website and check out her stuff https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZipperEnthusiast?ref=search_shop_redirect I’ve added a permanent direct link to her site, under, “These are a few of my favorite things!”

Boredom

There’s something to be said about playing it safe...it’s boring. Boredom makes me nauseous and encourages me to do stupid things, including...overeating, gambling and considering getting into a relationship...ugh! Any of which would lead me into becoming what I don't want to be, i.e., an overweight 50-something, who gambles too much to avoid spending time with a woman he doesn't love. Whom he got into a relationship if the first place with, with because he was….BORED.

It’s not that I don't want to fall in love again. I actually did almost two years ago. Unfortunately I didn’t realize it, until she was gone. I regret letting her go...and she told me I would.

Anyways...back to avoiding boredom.

January 1st life is changing drastically for me. I am in the currently preparing for this life change. Thankfully I believe in the philosophy, of “baby steps” (or maybe I believe in Bill Murray movies).

I’m currently getting rid of excess baggage, both literally and figuratively. Although I've already started taking a few steps in my journey, my next major step toward January 1st is a  454 mile journey in a 37 year old automobile. This journey is addressing many issues, including my proclivity to playing it safe.

Stayed tuned.

Hey! I almost forgot! It’s would have been John Lennon’s 76th birthday today! Happy birthday Mr. Lennon! In honor of his birthday my latest creation is of John. circa, approximately 1964.

Getting Rid of the Parachute

Happy Monday (not really, I seriously dislike Mondays).

If you didn't notice, I have now blogged for two days in a row. Thank you! 

Ya know, thinking about it... I suppose I could technically stop writing here and publish it and I still would have blogged for two days in a row. However since this is,"a place for my thoughts, observations, remembrances and general incoherent ramblings concerning the creative process behind my drawings and life in general"...I suppose I should give you some.

I use to see myself as Clark Kent-ish type figure, During the day, disguised as a mild mannered reporter (bartender) working for a great metropolitan newspaper (casino). Then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday turning into Supercartoonist!

Unfortunately, the line is getting blurred. Too many people at work (some customers and..well, lets say, "employees") know my secret identity. Although I use to think that I would have liked to keep my secret identity a secret (it would have allowed me to silently shrink into obscurity) Pandora's Box is now open and there's no going back (thanks Veronica) 

As such, soon it will be time to move out of Metropolis and take up full time residency in my, Fortress of Solitude.  My career is currently in the, Lets Make a Deal phase. There are several doors (paths) ahead of me and now I got to figure out which one to open. 

Hint...I'm not going to wear a parachute.

Time to Think

It's funny how inspiration works. After a rough week of trying to create a drawing, that didn't quite work out (the understatement of the century) something told me to take my girlfriend (her name's, Dat Sun and she's one sexy b*tch) for a drive today in search of said, inspiration.

.

Although I think I may have found it, the search revealed other things..

I'm learning the key to success is not taking breaks in the pursuit of it.

I don't know if it's laziness or lack of desperation, I tend to sit down and draw only when I'm in the mood. Bad mistake. I need to create daily, if I don't, well...it's like rolling a bowling ball up a hill. If you don't keep rolling that ball up the hill, as soon as you take a break, it's going to roll back down to the bottom of the hill and you're going to have to start from the beginning. Of course it could be lack of desperation...in that case, I could quit the day job tomorrow and HELLO DESPERATION!

Maybe I should do a Vlog instead of a Blog?

I enjoyed making the little movie you see above. Would people enjoy my ramblings any more (or less) if they were on YouTube instead of Blogger? Maybe on both?? 

What am I doing to myself (after eating a 15 million calorie meal at Jack in the Box)???

If I do create a video blog, I need to change my lifestyle (i.e., lose weight and get into shape). I would freak out watching myself on video, in my current physical condition. I'm sure it wouldn't matter to most people (watching the videos) what kind of shape I'm in (and there are a lot of people in worst shape than I'm in) however it would matter to me.

Apparently giving oneself time to think, can be a life changing experience. Especially in an astonishingly awesome 1979 280zx.

Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

I hear this awesome song in my head when I'm drawing at events these days. This is a good thing, because I use to hear the Ringling Brother Barnum & Bailey Circus song.

Although I'm certainly not providing salvation, I am

providing smiles and happiness, which is bringing me happiness. WARNING: Lately, happiness, seems to be a reoccurring theme on this Blog.

This is also the first event where my son (@Stevey_Stu) and I, "live tweeted" (is that the correct term??), through my Twitter account, @iamscribbles. With his assistance (and some surprisingly, sharp humor on his part) it worked out very well. Hopefully, we can continue this at future events, with some additional ideas I have floating around upstairs.

Anyways...here's the pics

P.S. An added thanks to me ole' chum, Dan Shegrud, who introduced me to the music of Neal Diamond, back in the 70's.

Happiness

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Gandhi

Im almost there.

Lately my life has been an increasingly wonderful experience and less of a struggle. By following my heart, I find happiness. Deviate from what I know is right...and life again, becomes a struggle.

As a testimony to this, in April I took a trip to Los Angeles. Financially speaking it probably wasn’t the best move, but something told me, I needed to go. I struggled during the drive because I started doubting the sensibility of the journey, although my heart knew I was doing the right thing. I think my son could tell, when I was struggling during the drive. I would become agitated at stupid stuff and probably wasn’t the most pleasant guy to be around (all apologies:). However, when we finally arrived at our destination, my life changed forever. I have never been happier. Although we had never been there before, I felt like I was home and at peace. My son even told me I was a different person, while I was there. A happier person. I had indeed found my happiness...and it only took me 54 years. Further proof of finding my happiness, was the work I created, when I returned...

Although I now know where my happiness is and the direction I need to take, I still struggle with deviation and staying on my path. Like Hank Jr. says, Old Habits are hard to break...

I was put on this earth to create my drawings, by doing so, I bring happiness to myself and hopefully I bring a smile to others.