2008 was bittersweet.

On the day job front it couldn’t have been better. I slipped more into a management/marketing/subject matter expert roll. A program I’m heading won an award for “Outstanding Research” at a major conference (and I was listed as an author for seven papers presented at the conference, as well), I gave three big talks, and had a letter of recognition sent to my boss from a Brigadier General. If that’s all french to you all you need to know is that any one of those things would be outstanding for a thirty-year-old kid. I’m starting 2009 with a lot of stock and there are already some very interesting things cooking.

I can’t complain about the relationship side of things, either. Robin and I have been getting better with age; we're like a 2000 Rhone from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. You can drink us now but give it another decade or so and we'll be available on the wine market for hundreds of dollars per bottle. I’m looking forward to the wedding in June and everything that comes with married life. My family stayed healthy this past year. My sister’s starting to turn into a little adult, I have a new niece and she’s adorable, and my nephew/godson is nothing short of perfect in my eyes.

But the writing…oh, the writing. I was lazy and unlucky this year. I let too many opportunities slip away and the ones I pursued ended up being dead-ends. I kept waiting for Postcards’ sales to kick up and that never happened. Drove out to San Diego to try to sell some non-comic work and that kind of flopped (although my diary was published at DCist). It was a very frustrating year and, to be honest, I feel like I’m starting all over again in ’09 despite the fantastic year I had in ’07. I mean, seriously…two books I edited were put out by Random House, the largest publisher IN AMERICA, and ’08 was a holding pattern. Not to mention the fact I was nominated for an Eisner and two Harveys for my ’07 work. How does that even happen?

So, with all that said, I’ve come up with some resolutions for the New Year. I know most people come up with one resolution but I figure if I have a whole bunch I can at least accomplish one.

1) Write everyday. This should seem like an easy resolution especially since I love to write and my old Moose in the Closet shit is proof-positive that I can do it everyday. But there are several minor resolutions that I’ll need to stick to in order to achieve something like The Moose this year…
a. Don’t drink so much
b. Don’t mope so much
c. Don’t watch so much porno (is there anything in this universe more distracting than porno? No. No, there’s not)
2) Lose some fucking weight already. I’m getting married in six months and I’m 30 pounds overweight. I actually like working out and I like cooking and eating good foods but it’s the moping thing that’s fucking me up. I come home tired and all cranky and I just have some pizza and some beer and call it a night.
3) Answer emails. Oy, did my tendency to ignore emails bite me in the ass in 2008.
4) Keep my desk clean. Half the times I don’t write at night is because my desk is filthy and not worth cleaning.
5) Don’t have any faith in the Jets or the Mets, no matter who they get in the off-season.
6) Don’t fart as much. This is more Robin’s request than my resolution but I’ll try my best.
7) Don’t watch Heroes. What a way to waste an hour a week.
8) Learn how to use my camera. I have an expensive-ass camera and I use full auto 95% of the time.
9) Watch more indie movies. Listen to more indie bands. Catch more live shows.
10) Go to bed before 1AM most weeknights. These 3/4AM nights just aren’t working anymore. I’m getting old.
11) Keep a wine journal.
12) Write letters to the editors of newspapers and websites.
13) Volunteer. Donate more to charity.
14) Solve a Rubik’s Cube.
15) Finish the friggin’ YA book already…even if it means starting over.
16) Learn how to make my own sushi even if it sucks.
17) See Gogol Bordello whenever they’re playing within 60 miles of me.
18) Read more Chandler.
19) Get off the fence with organized religion already.
20) Listen to every Otis Redding track ever recorded.
21) Watch more Westerns.
22) Go into the Watchmen movie with an open mind.
23) Don’t tell my friends, “I told you so,” after they express their disappointment in the Watchmen movie.
24) Bike more.
25) Drown out the noise.

Labels: rambling

I spent the past two weeks in four different cities and this blog has been stagnant as a result. I figured a general update post is in order and then I’ll get back to the content.

As far as the traveling goes, I was in Buffalo visiting my sister, New Orleans for a work conference, Colorado Springs for a marketing trip, and NYC for Thanksgiving. It’s been hectic and I have a nasty cough and sore throat as a result. I’m leaving for Vicksburg, MS this Sunday for three days and then I should be remaining in DC until the holidays. I’ll be in NYC and Framingham for Christmas and New Years.

I start up again in January, with multiple trips to Orlando and one to Macomb, GA and San Diego, CA, most likely. Then it’s comic book season. NYC Comic-Con and SPX are definite this year – I’m pretty sure I’ll be skipping SDCC this year since it’s a month before my wedding. I guess attendance depends on whether or not my bonus is high enough to pay for the rest of the wedding. Based on my past years' performance it should be high enough to pay for wedding and honeymoon. Based on, you know, reality I doubt I'll be so lucky. Fingers crossed.

I’ve been reading a lot about World War I lately, particularly books, journals, and articles on the Ypres Salient. I’m doing an 8-page story for a War Anthology the DC Conspiracy is putting together but I’m kind of itching to do something much bigger – like a regular series. Ypres was basically a mass grave site during WWI, it was the testing ground for many modern warfare innovations, the conditions were horrific, and some of the 20th centuries most influential politicians, writers, and policy makers cut their teeth in the Salient. It’s one of the most intriguing stories I’ve ever read, and the narrative just seems to fall right of it. I’ve read several histories so far, but it’s a recent crop of journals I’ve stumbled upon that are really getting my brain going.

The Netflix/X-Box partnership has been a great way to catch up on my movie backlog. I’ve been watching Weeds, several great documentaries, and some old crime flicks like Bonnie & Clyde and the original Scarface. TV-wise I've seemed to pick up no new series this year. I dropped Fringe, Life on Mars, and Pushing Daisies. The Office, 30 Rock, Entourage, Sarah Connor Chronicles and, reluctantly, Heroes, are the only shows I'm watching now. Lost and 24 will be on the list come next year.

Someone’s been leaving Chick Tracts in my work elevator. The publications are compliments of the Hope Church of God. One of them uses bible verses to prove actors go to hell. I can’t wait for the day when all comic book properties are optioned and Warner Brothers is forced to option Chick Tracts for its 2018 slate. I can’t wait to see Tom Selleck making Muslims cry with the truth about the Moon God.

Christmas shopping is underway. Taking it easy this year, wedding and recession and all. Just getting something small but thoughtful for Robin, the sis, the ‘rents, and the nephew and niece. All I want is a new hat.

Kanye’s new album…I like what I’ve heard so far. My hip-hop tastes have been tumultuous of late. I wasn’t satisfied with the newest Blackalicious, El-P, Del, etc album but Cadence Weapon’s Afterparty Babies got me into the house-side of hip-hop. As a result I’ve been finding myself getting more into the radio-play stuff, particularly Lil’ Wayne and Kanye’s new stuff. It seems like a complete departure of my usual hip-hop tastes but, oh-well – time to accept the new reality, I guess.

Dogfish Head(one of my three favorite breweries along with Rogue and Bell's) opened a restaurant in Seven Corners. It’s magical.

I’ve been impressed with Obama’s cabinet picks so far. Back in August I said Obama’s going to be the kind of guy that assembles a fantastic cabinet, much like Lincoln did when he was elected President. Choosing Hillary Clinton as Secretary State is as inspired as Lincoln’s pick of Seward. I also love the fact that Obama is working his ass off. Say what you will about the man’s policies, you can’t say he’s some slouch that’s going to occupy the Oval Office for four years and do nothing. Obama’s going to be a workhorse for this country and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes.

I have a Big Brothers/Big Sisters orientation tonight. I really want to volunteer my time, especially since monetary donations will likely be down next year.

Tomorrow night is the final Writing for Comics class. We’ll probably have it at a bar. Not sure if I’ll be coming back for another term.

As a Jets fan, I’m cautiously optimistic about our chances this season. I still don’t believe in the Bret Favre hype. With the line he has and the Jets’ defense doing what they’re doing Ryan Leaf would have this team in playoff contention. But if we make it to the playoffs I’ll be happy and if we make it to the Super Bowl I’ll shit my pants and if we win the Super Bowl I’ll be convinced that I actually did die in a Mexican bar back in 2003 and I’m now in heaven, a theory that I sometimes embrace when things seem to be going too well. No matter what happens this season I hope the Jets sign Cassel next year and Bret Favre ends up in San Francisco.

I guess that’s all. Content should be coming this week but no promises. I have plenty I want to write about but little time to write.

Labels: news, rambling

I really like Robin’s family’s house. It’s a big farmhouse in the middle of a suburban sprawl. Two floors and a barn attached, very spacious with an old, homey feel to it.

I first visited this place in the summer between my Junior and Senior year in college. Robin and I borrowed her parents’ car to drive up to Ogunquit, Maine, our first destination date. We spent the evening in Ogunquit, got lobster for dinner and had beers and karaoke during the evening. We drove the car back the following day, Robin’s parents weren’t home and we spent the night at their house. Playing pool in the game room and blasting the juke box, it was a good time.

I grew up in a small apartment in Brooklyn. A dining room with a small bathroom and kitchen attached, a living room, my parents’ bedroom, and my bedroom. That was it. When my sister was born she slept in my parents’ room until I moved out – I was 18 and Elizabeth was 7. Robin’s house, by contrast, was a palace compared to our apartment. Bathroom, kitchen, dining room, game room, living room, and computer room on the first floor. Four bedrooms on the second floor. The barn, the storage shed, the large yard, the patio – it’s the kind of place you’d hardly ever see in NYC and when you do see it you’d know it belongs to one of the richest people in the area.

Contrary to the impression the house left on me, Robin was not Ms. Richie Rich growing up. But that’s her story, and it’s probably not my right to tell it. The point is – this house impressed the shit out of me.

Interestingly, my history with Robin’s family is sort of a blur. I don’t remember the first time I met her parents or her brother. I think it might have been a quick encounter at her brother’s lacrosse game but I have no recollection of what was said or how it went. I feel like my memory’s been going, recently, or I’ve been filling my head up with the unimportant shit.

My most prominent memory of Robin’s parents comes from the following summer, when Robin moved down to DC to me. After loading up the truck Robin’s dad told me, “If you hurt my daughter I’ll kill you.” That’s the kind of thing you don’t forget.

I do remember meeting Robin’s sister. The three of us went to Sunset Grill in Boston together. Again, memory fails me and I don’t remember much from the get-together but I’m sure it was fun; I always have fun hanging with Robin and her sister. One thing about Robin’s sister, she always makes me feel younger than I am. She’s only a year older than me and she’s married, has a nice house, and she’s having her second kid today. She definitely has her shit together to the point where I hope to have mine in seven or eight years from now.

It’s always amazed me how some people can actually embrace adulthood. I look at my friends – we’re starting to get married but none of us have any plans for kids or owning houses or moving out of the city or any of that stuff. We’re all still partying whenever we can and wondering where we want to end up and what we want to do. Despite having a stable career that pays me very well I’m still trying to get a writing career going. My best friend’s my age and he’s contemplating moving to Italy for six months to learn how to cook. I get together with my DC friends and we talk about video games or TV shows while kicking back six-packs. I compare that to someone like Robin’s sister (or my parents, for that matter) and I’m just amazed (and admittedly a bit jealous) that someone can be an adult at 30.

Anyway, I’ve definitely gotten closer with Robin’s family over the years, just like she’s gotten closer with mine. And I love this house, even though everyone here goes to bed at 10PM.

Labels: rambling

Robin and I drove up to Framingham, Massachusetts on Saturday and we’ll be here until Friday. We have several reasons for taking the trip, first-and-foremost being the fact that Robin’s sister is having another baby on Tuesday. So we get to see the baby along with our nephew/godson Shamus – always a good time. We want to take him to the aquarium for the first time and take him to get his Halloween costume this year. I’m thinking I’m going to push him towards The Flash because it’s an easy superhero concept for a 20-month-old to grasp: The Flash runs really fast. It doesn’t involve utility belts, healing factors, or super strength – just run.

We’re also doing some wedding planning while we’re up here. We met with a DJ on Saturday night and he was a super nice guy but he seemed like the kind of person who does a “whacky” morning show on the radio. The good thing is we’re pretty sure that he’ll do whatever we tell him to do so if we go with him we’ll be able to at least fake the type of DJ we’ve been looking for.

Today we’re meeting with a caterer and on Wednesday we’re getting our engagement pictures taken care of. The caterer situation is insane – the one we really liked sent us a proposal that was around $55 per person for food (within our budget) and then an extra $100 per person for staff, linens, silverware, etc (about $100 out of our budget). The person we’re meeting with today seems to be within out budget but, as a foodie, his food choices hurt my soul. I’ll live…

The wedding thing is getting scary – especially with this whole “economy is rapidly falling apart” thing. We were trying to be frugal going into it and now we’re tripling our efforts on the savings front. Who knows how it’s going to go, anyway – for all we know we could be in a depression within a year and we won’t even have the wedding; at least not the picturesque one we’re going for now.

This economy – I’ve tried to create several posts on it but there’s simply nothing funny about it. It’s just a mess.

Anyway, that’s how my week is looking. I imagine there will also be a lot of beer involved (although I did pick up a couple of bottles of Rhone from the Vin Bin, a fantastic wine shop in Marlborough). There will also be a ton of keno and scratch tickets. Every bar we go to in Framingham has keno in it and I’ll play twenty-dollars in numbers as soon as I get in. On Saturday I wound up winning $15 dollars over cost between Keno and scratch cards so I’m already ahead. I’m sure I’ll end up a couple of bucks down by the time the week is out. We also want to go to Foxwoods to check out the new MGM Grand so that’ll certainly put me out a couple of bucks unless I have a blackjack run like I had at Atlantic City this past summer (I put $100 in and pulled $700 out).

Anyway, that’s really all there is to do in Framingham. The nights are particularly boring – I usually find myself in bed by ten which is about 3 hours earlier than I’ll go to bed on a weeknight, let alone a weekend. Hopefully I’ll get some writing done while I’m out here, I have several pitches I want to work on and several scripts I promised folks I’d read.

That’s all – sorry for the boring “here’s what I’m up to” blog post. Better stuff (in theory) on the way.

Labels: rambling, wedding

follow JayRodriguez at http://twitter.com