You know what sucks? Music at gay bars. Bad music really pisses me off. lWhy's it gotta be that way???

~

I think these two are hilarity. Especially Cole. I was recently just introduced to these skits on youtube. As I understand it, they're two young dudes in New York, who do video skits and are best friends that play off each other.

Sex and the City Tickets


Gay Marriage


Fag of Honor


Some of the videos are pretty fun.

~

painting by Hugh Fleming

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People keep coming to me and asking me to do things. Or they approach me and look to me for answers because they seem to think I have them. Is it too much to ask for some peace and quiet so that I can go about my business surfing the internet?! Can't they see how swamped I am with all the freelance work that I'm trying to procrastinate from? Why can't they just leave me alone???

~

THE OLD: Blast from my past. So I'm in the first stages of re-designing my website and I was missing some files since I didn't get to transfer all my old work from my G4 computer.

Thanks to my old pal, coroba, who dug it out of her archives all the way from Greece, I got to revisit some of my old work again. I probably drew these like, 6 years ago now...

I never got to showcase these, but with her approval, here they are:



To see more, checkit ( : : MORE CHARACTER DESIGNS : : )

***********

As for THE NEW: I just found out last night that I've developed Scoliosis. My chiropractor thinks it might have something to do with the way my body's developed due to either a crooked hip or one of my legs is shorter (Great, like I didn't have a million other things to be self conscious about, now I gotta worry about a freakish leg)

Then when I was leaving my chiropractor's office, he stops me and says "Hey Mike...!"

and I stop in my tracks and turn around and ask, "What's up, doc?" (I try to use that whenever possible)

and he says, "Don't forget to smile today!"

And I had no idea how to even respond to that. Last time I checked, I was a 30-something cynical man, who had to get out of bed 2 and a half hours earlier than normal, endured rush hour traffic just to make an 8am chiropracter's appointment, (not to mention I gave up drinking coffee 10 years ago) who also OH YEAH, just got told that he has Scoliosis. Who says shit like that anyways?! Obviously my chiropractor doesn't know that I've killed men for less...

~

It started off with a bad dream. I guess it was more like a nightmare. Nothing scary, but more upsetting. I just remember waking up to hearing myself cry out. After realizing what was going on, I looked at my clock to see that it was 4am. I drank some water and went back to bed. I woke up again at around 10:45am.

I guess the dream was still lingering because I was feeling a bit down. I microwaved a Lean Pocket for breakfast and did some light reading. I wasn't very into the book, so I switched gears and began some freelance work. After a little bit, I decided I wasn't into that either so I decided to fuck it all and leave the apartment. I thought I'd treat myself to a movie instead.

Movie of choice: Kung Fu Panda. Cartoons always raise my spirits. It was a really entertaining movie and I had made a good call. After that was done, I realized that Get Smart was just beginning a few doors down. Not ready to go home yet, I snuck into the theater just in time for previews. I haven't pulled anything like that since high school. I don't normally do stuff like that but I guess I just wasn't ready to go home yet. Yep, I'm a hooligan. I even snuck in my own bottle of Snapple.

After my double feature, I drove to the local comic shop and snagged some comics. It's been a few weeks and I have a ton to catch up on. It ended up being a wierd day weather-wise. It started off sunny and ended up raining really hard. On my drive home, while it rained, it also started to HAIL! Wanting to avoid the torrential down pour, I parked in front of my building and sat for awhile. From inside the Blue Bomber, I watched large chunks of ice assault my car and everything around me.

Hail. In June. Random as hell.

After about 10 minutes of that, the hail stopped and the rain finally eased up. I got out of my car and ran inside. My "roomate" wasn't home and I had the apartment to myself for the day. When I got in, I grabbed a pair of scissors and took my new bonsai tree out to the back deck. Under the shelter of the stairs above me, I trimmed some branches off and let some rain spritz the tree a bit before taking it back inside. And that was my Sunday. Just me, my comics and my bonsai tree.

Oh, and I shaved my head a week ago.



Man, my forehead's ginormous. I'm usually pretty self conscious whenever I shave my head, but honestly, I find that I don't really care now. With all the changes lately, I figure it'd be fitting for the times.

Wow, I just realized that it's 2am. I better get some shut eye.

~

I'm having a shitty day. I wish I could take a vacation away from my brain. Note to my brain: Fuck you, brain. I hate you today.

I re-watched this video just now though and it made me kinda happy.



~

So remember that one time in when I made my New Year's resolution? Probably not. It was: "Cut WAY down on freelance." Well, I guess that's all out the window. Lately, I've been having to make a lot of life decisions and this new book deal is something to chew on.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about the Mackenzie Blue project, but doing the artwork for that book as well as for the website, and the webisodes... it's just a lot of work. I was hoping I could actually devote all my time to this project now that it's a-go, but it doesn't really pay me as much as my 9-5 at The Compound. I'm in the middle of trying to determine my schedule with all the responsibilities ahead of me and I can't deny the fact that I can't live my double life of designer-by-day and illustrator-by-night anymore. There's just not enough hours in the day for me to pull that off. I'm all about following my dreams, but I can't deny that a part of me longs for stability. You know what it is? I just don't want to be poor, like I was when I lived in New York, again. Well, that being said if push comes to shove I'll do what I need to do. I just hope I make the right decision, in the long run. Dreams vs practicality. I really hate being a pisces sometimes.

Finally, as for the beautiful bonzai tree I received yesterday, I just wanted to say, Thank You. It was a sweet sentiment and one of the most beautiful gifts anyone's ever given me. Sincerely, thank you. You know who you are.

~

So it looks like my trip to New York last week proved more fruitful than I imagined. The good folks at Buzz Marketing arranged a last minute meeting for me to meet up with the powers-that-be at Publishing Gods, Harper Collins. (Yes, it's true most of the books I read are published by DC and Marvel, but even my limited scope in life can appreciate the immensity of this.)

The good folks at Harper seemed really enthusiastic to meet me and expressed their excitement to be working with me on the new Mackenzie Blue tween book series. Which was a total shock for me because I felt all insignicant compared to these professional children's book specialists. I mean HC put out legendary books like To Kill A Mockingbird, a staple in American literature, for chrissakes. That's some serious shit! It was pretty crazy that they were actually excited to work with ME. To my delight those guys wined-&-dined me New York-style (more accurately, wined-&-lunched me, but it doesn't flow together as well) and took me out to a cool Italian restaurant in Midtown. The editor and I talked about New York life, Chicago memories and japanese furniture moving companies. I'm not sure, but I think I actually pulled off the whole "professional" thing. Fuc. Yea.

After lunch, I was led into their headquarters where I met the Creative Director and the rest of the team I'll be working with and we had a two hour meeting discussing project details. There, we also talked about INSANELY unfortunate accidents, fateful encounters, and dating comedians. I really appreciated the meeting because it answered a lot of questions I've had for a couple months now. I also got a preview copy of the book's interior layout and how it's been mapped out for the illustration spots. Being able to finally visualizing these things helps me x1000. Honestly, I was awe-inspired by the genuinely supportive, positive attitudes the crew at Harper has for this project. The thought of these genius book makers rallying for this product to succeed makes me feel so much better. After the meeting, I was 100% more excited about this project. Figures that one of my best New York moments happens after I've moved out of that city.

The whole idea that I'm gonna have a book series featuring my illustration direction, published by a major New York publishing company is just so friggin' crazy to me. Like, this is all seriously blowing my mind.

I didn't get to take any pictures while I was there, but sofabeast took pictures of when he, bigboychb and ivanushka got their hands on the book preview package and took it on its own NYC tour.


Thanks a lot, dicks!

On the personal side of things, I got to hang out in my old 'hood, Carroll Gardens, again. It's so pretty, I can't even get over it. I took a bit of time by myself on Friday night to walk up Smith Street ( I used to live on Smith, between Baltic and Bergen) and took in all the new shops and restaurants. I observed all the Brooklyn people as they bedazzled and inspired me all at once. On a warm weekend, Carroll Gardens emanates this amazingly potent amount of energy that all you can do is want to soak it up and bask in it. It was kinda magical, even.

There's a great little comic shop called Rocketship that's literally 2 doors down from where I used to live. Man, if that place was around when I lived there 7 years ago, that woulda done wonders for my morale, if not my wallet. That night, I treated myself to dinner at a really nice Indian restaurant on Smith (and Degraw) called Bombay Dream. The weather was perfect and I requested to sit by the window. No one does Indian cuisine like New York. Except maybe for India. Regardless, every bite was a party in my mouth.

During my quiet candle lit dinner by the window, I read my book, Living Dead In Dallas, the second installment of a Souther Vampire fiction series, created by Charlaine Harris. This book series ROCKS! I haven't been this entralled by books outside of comics in a hella long time. I guess reading books is one of my new things to do. I figure that if I'm gonna take some time out in life, I might as well try to pick up some good habits while I'm at it. So basically, the story's about a waitress who's a telapath and is in a relationship with a vampire. Next thing you know, wackiness ensues. If that's not a recipe for shitstorms I don't know what is.) Total WIN!! Oh, and I hear they're gonna be making an HBO series of it soon, so I wanna finish off the books before that happens.

Anyways, despite my chronic uncomfortability with being by myself, my night alone in Carroll Gardens was really lovely. I *heart* Brooklyn.

~

I can't take credit for this one. This was emailled to me by my co-worker/subletter, Nancy.

Good idea at the time or literal translation? You decide.



~

Sup sup, Live Journalers.

So I know I've been talking about a book deal for awhile, where I've been illustrating character designs and book covers to pitch to Harper Collins. After some bumps along the road, I'm back on the project. Here's some insight to the company I've been working with, Buzz Marketing Group.

I've been working closely wtih the CEO, Tina Wells for over 2 years developing the look of this book series, and I'm finalizing my contract negotiations with Harper Collins now. (I hope)

Check out the interview and you'll see some of my artwork in the background. And if you check out Buzzmg.com, you can see more media coverage around the books. In fact, there's a bit of a preview of the lead character below the video. The first book is slated to release June 2009 and will be distributed by Barnes & Noble.



Things are far from finalized and there's a lot of work to be done still. Hopefully I'll get to see this project til the end. Everyone cross their digits for me!



~

Ant Man & Cassie Lang

~

Our buddy Rob in New York forwarded kobielee this posting today, which she then forwarded to me.

I didn't know Doctor Who posted on craigslist. From Virginia.

~

hifihillary should be tickled to see this:



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I've been creating some graphics. I decided to turn on all my layers and I got this. The clutter looked kinda cool. I added the little character today.

Mea Culpa by Mike Segawa

I don't think the Zanex is working. Everything feels bad today. This will be the only sour piece I create though. I refuse to be a cliché.

~

I'm subletting my co-worker's apartment who's son recently passed away. Light bulbs have been burning out once in a while and I've already had to replace at least two. We've established his spirit is haunting the apartment. He was an actor in New York. I've seen pictures of him.

I gotta say, my ghost is pretty hot.

**************************

Also, has everone seen these Hundai ads with the SUMO wrestlers on it? I saw a big billboard of this driving into the Loop last week, and it just astounded me.


Now that's suggestive advertising. Whoever approved this picture should either get fired...or a medal.

If I was his co-worker, I'd be all like, "Hey remember that one time you spear headed a major foreign car company's ad campaign with an image of SUMO wrestlers blowing each other? Good one."

~

So who here dreads an encounter with those Red Light Cameras? Ever fallen for that forbidden yellow light? Well, I just found the solution to all our fears:


Anarchy rules.

[EDIT] I just found out this is a sham. But man, thank god for hi-speed internet.

~

Lemme start this off by wishing hifihillary a big HAPPY BURPDAY! Hope you're not working too hard today.



Also, just wanted to give everyone on LJ a big heads up. If any of you are in the Chicago area this weekend, we're having the big LOVECHICAGO.ORG website launch party tomorrow night and you're ALL invited. Deets:

Reggie's Rock Club
Saturday, April 26, 9:00PM
2109 S. State St.
Cover: $8.00

MUSIC:
Rock out! Chicago-local indie bands:
THE EFFIGIES • MOTO • MagnaFUx • BONE TOSSER

ALCOHOL:
Have some drinks ON US! Come early and get yourself some FREE drink tickets—they're gonna go fast!

PRIZES:
GET INKED! We're raffling off a $100 gift certificate for tattoos courtesy of the good folks at Revolution Tattoo. FREE to enter!

Come by and show us some LOVE, Chicago. Everyone's welcome so forward this to everyone you've ever known. Oh yeah, and don't forget to check us out at: LoveChicago.org

~

Looks like someone finally got their music video debut!
My good buddy chrisomatic is the drummer for San Francisco-based band, the Ex-Boyfriends and they just premiered their first ever video on youtube.

The song's titled "Situation" on their new album, "In With", designed by yours truly.

Dig it:



[I just want to say that I think it's kinda humorous that someone I used to date is in a band called 'the Ex-boyfriends'. Further proof that my life is a comedy.]

BIG CONGRATS to chrisomatic and the rest of the band. Rock on.

~

Last week was all sorts of new experiences for me. jennyfactory came all the way to Chicago to celebrate her big 3-0 here. In the Midwest of all places! SUCKER!

I gotta say, the girl really knows how to maximize her time. Not only did she get to hang out with some of her favorite people for her birthday, but she managed to align the visit with some of her favorite bands who I never heard of, who happened to be playing here.

Another new thing I did: Veganism! I went vegan for 5 days straight! Actually, I was only vegan for 1 day. It was too hard to resist things with melted cheese. Regardless, I went vegetarian and I haven't done anything like that since I was doing all that "experimenting" in college.

jennyfactory is vegan so I figured that when Romans come to stay at your apartment for 5 days, why not do as the Romans do, yea? It was a fun experience and I got to sample some really great food that I don't normally eat. I think it's fun to live outside of yourself and walk in someone else's non-leather, non-animal tested shoes once in awhile to shake things up a bit. I can get down with GLUTEN.

That being said, I'm totally ready for some steak. I'll kill it if I have to. So what did I learn from all my new experiences?

- Hippies are very nice people.
- Okkervil River is a great band.
- Veganism makes me go poo. A lot.

~