I’ve quickly realized that I don’t post here as often as I probably should. This is supposed to be my personal blog, a place where I can vent, share, bestow pride and gloat all at the same time - yet, seven months ago (from the time of this writing) I stopped.

I was in a different mindset. I had a bunch of things circling around my head like a planetary system, and me at the center, had nowhere to go but stand there and watch as they buzzed about. I think it was the motionless thing that bothered me most - I enjoyed being any one of those spinning planets - moving forwards and coming back and starting the trip anew. Then, I felt like I was the focal point and everything seemed to be passing by.

What a difference half a year makes.

In that time - I started El Cuervo, a noir webcomic with some strong influences from Frank Miller and Tim Bradstreet. It’s something I’ve wanted to pursue for a long time, and so far it’s been fun. I set an ambitious goal of 5 pages per week, released as a single episode. Let me tell you, that has been tough. Scripting, sourcing reference images, drawing, lettering and maintaining the website - then there’s the promotion aspect.

It’s heavy duty - and time consuming. But I enjoy it, and it has been a good pursuit. Some days, it feels like work - but I think it is because I’ve never set a solid routine for doing updates. I started with a twice a week single page update, and I found the story just moved way too slowly. I lost a lot of readers from the onset because the story was too new and there wasn’t enough development.

Now I’m 3 chapters in, 85 pages through the first book, and we’re going places. We have characters with a bit of depth and history - but we’re still in a feeling out process for our protagonist. Do we trust him or not? Is he genuine or is he just trying to save his own ass?

These are the things I’m worrying about as I’m writing - if there’s going to be enough depth? Right now, everything is playing out like an action movie - superficial and going through the motions. And it’s only because it NEEDS to be like that in order to have the defining moments of depth later on.

As for everything else in my life right now - well…

The chances of my wife and I having kids are slim again and put on hold. Surgery and some big life altering decisions are on the way for next year. This being her 30th year, she’s really not enamored with the prospect of 2011 starting with the biggest unachieved goal hanging above her head like a guillotine blade.

My work life is good - I helped my mother in law get a job and a car in the same month. She works hard and deserves better, so I do what I can to make that happen. That sort of good behavior tends to come back to you with good fortune. I’m not expecting anything in return, but its funny to see how that seems to work.

We adopted a new puppy who is almost a year old. He’s a blessing and a curse all at the same time. But a lovable animal is 100s of times better than a life without anyone or anything to care for.

Speaking of adoption, we’re on the ‘short-list’ for adoption in our area, now that we’ve completed all the mandatory training and interview sessions. So if all else fails with our own process for having kids, we can look forward to that - how slim those chances may be for placement.

On a brighter note, Christmas is coming, which is my favorite time of year to get together with family and friends and enjoy some much needed time off. After last year’s debacle, this year appears to be promising.

As for promises, I hope to keep some - including writing to this journal more often.

Work is beckoning. I must heed the call.