2007 is almost at an end....siigggh
Well, time for my obligatory end of the year post.
What can I say? 2007 has been a crappy year overall. I honestly can't wait for it to be over and get a mental fresh start in '08.
It really feels like this year has been one of my most disjointed, most stressful years yet. As someone who's moved every 3 years or so growing up, and who's used to adjusting to new places, I never thought moving to California would be such a life-changing event. I'm enjoying life in California, for sure, but it kind of feels like the move was akin to a large rock dropping into the still pond that was my life, and the ripples still haven't subsided.
Looking back on my resolutions for 2007 I'm bummed to see that I didn't meet most of them:
I resolved to complete Mangaka 2 and 3... which... obviously didn't happen. Will and I did everything we could do to make it so but the publisher just sat on it and never signed the necessary papers, despite telling us that they really wanted to do more volumes. After a few initial pushes to get it going, Will and I sort of gave up as life got in the way. I think it's something we'd like to do in the future, but now we're both too busy with other projects.
I also resolved to keep My Poorly Drawn Life updated weekly which, obviously, also hasn't happened. I haven't updated in ages. I want to start again in the New Year, but it does take a lot of time to do (despite its rough appearance) and I've already got more work than I know what to do with. Another disappointment...
I resolved to finish Knit-Wits which was, in fact, one partial success. I didn't get the whole thing done but I managed to get a 16 page ashcan done which I sold at Felt Club this year. It felt good to get a small project done that was *mine* alone, and not something I was hired to do. It's been a long time since I've done something for myself that way. I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope to expand on it next year.
I resolved to get a table at San Diego Comic Con... I tried, but was denied. Oh, well. I still went and had a good time.
I resolved to travel somewhere new and I did! I went to Toronto for a convention and met and hung out with a bunch of Canadian artists such as Eric Kim and Rosemary Mosco, and Svetlana Chmakova! That was fun.
I resolved to help Will finish some of his own comic projects but because of everything that happened this year, his side projects were unfortunately put on the back-burner. He does have a promising project that I can't reveal just yet... we're anxiously awaiting a resolution to the writers' strike so that it can get rolling again. We'll see!
Lastly, I resolved to read more books. Which I did! Still not as many as I would have liked but much more than last year.
Anyway, I feel a little disappointed in my resolutions from last year but things were just so crazy this year, life-wise, family-wise, work-wise. I've also been taking a hard look at myself and my accomplishments and trying to figure out how I might feel more fulfilled in my future work. One thing I'm realizing is that I enjoy writing more than drawing. I see other artists on my friends list and I see them constantly posting amazing art that they make just for fun! It's almost like they can't NOT draw. But me? The only time I pick up a pencil these days is if I HAVE to. I only draw for my paid jobs and that's it. I don't even keep a sketchbook anymore... it's kind of sad in a way but I realized that I write the way that others draw. I write all the time. When I'm not working, I'm writing. And I do it for fun. So that sort of leads into my resolutions for next year:
1. Write More. I want to possibly attempt a novel. I want to write way more Dollar Dreadfuls.
Speaking of Dollar Dreadfuls, I resolve to:
2. Get Dollar Dreadfuls off the ground, open our online store, and create more content. Every place we've sold them, they've done amazingly well, so Will and I really want to focus on these for next year!
3. I resolve to be more healthy. I'm going to take vitamins and exercise more. I think this will improve my mood and productivity. I think I also want to learn to cook so we don't eat so much fast food and tv dinners.
4. Go on vacation with Will. Will and I haven't really gotten much of a break this year, and the last time we went on a trip together was over a year ago. I really want to go somewhere where we can just unwind and see something new.
I guess that's it for next year. I don't want to set the bar too high, I just want to get through next year with minimum drama.
Hope you all have a fun New Year's Eve and a happy, healthy 2008!
1) Was 2007 a good year for you?
Not really. See above.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
Nothing too specific comes to mind...
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Realizing we had to leave New York and move to California...
4) Where were you when 2007 began?
At a crowded party in a tiny apartment filled with smoke and people we didn't know.
6) Where will you be when 2007 ends?
Hanging out at home for a low-key evening!
7) Who will you be with when 2007 ends?
Will and my doggies
8) Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not really. Again, see above.
9) Did you travel outside of the US in 2007?
Yes! Toronoto, Canada!
10) How many different states did you travel to in 2007?
Quite a few! 17, in fact!: NJ, MA, CT, PA, OH, IN, IL, WI, MN, IA, NE, CO, NM, AZ, CA, GA, and FL!
11) What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More savings
12) What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 30th, when Will and I began our cross-country trip to Cali.
13) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my 30th issue of Sabrina, launching the Dollar Dreadful Family Library, knitting a sweater
14) What was your biggest failure?
Taking on more projects than I can handle
15) Where did most of your money go?
Moving expenses, higher rent, expensive vet bills
16) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a new bike and learning to ride it!
17) What song will always remind you of 2006?
Nothing Really by Stefy, Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John, Horse and I by Bat for Lashes, and Postcards from Italy by Beirut
18) What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
I learned to drive, I knit a sweater and learned to ride a fixed-gear bike!
19) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope!
20) Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.
21) Did you suffer illness or injury?
No! In fact I hardly got sick at all!
22) What was the best thing you bought?
My fixie! And more Blythes, of course!
23) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Will has always been a great support system when times are rough
24) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George W. Bush (as usual)
25) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier/Sadder: Sadder
Thinner/Fatter: I've gained some weight but not much
Richer/Poorer: Richer overall, but still spend too much and save not enough
26) What do you wish you’d done more of?
Played more videogames
27) What do you wish you’d done less of?
Feeling mopey
28) Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes!
29) What was your favorite TV program?
I haven't watched much TV of late... still enjoy Project Runway and American Idol!
30) Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, but there are people I feel disappointed in
31) What was the best book you read?
Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter 7!
32) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bat for Lashes!!
33) What did you want and get?
A new bike(s)! More Blythes!
34) What did you want and not get?
My wants were few this year, so I was fulfilled!
35) What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmm... didn't see many movies this year. Juno was really good. Atonement and Harry Potter were ok too. I thought Golden Compass was disappointing.
36) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and hung out with Will, Feaver and Cathy!
37) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had worked on more personal projects, as always.
38) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Much more colorful this year. I'm digging the 80's comeback fashions and rainbows. I like wearing what I like even though people have told me my sense of fashion is "interesting" which means "weird" I guess.
39) What kept you sane?
Same answer as last year: Writing and journaling. It’s the only thing that keeps me grounded when everything else is crazy.
40) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp, Cillian Murphy, Alan Rickman
41) What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing specific... just getting reaaaaally excited for next year's election.
42) Who did you miss?
Raina and Mike in NY and Lisa and John in CO! And my family in Atlanta.
43) Who was the best new person you met?
My new friends in Cali are pretty cool!
44) What was your favorite month of 2007?
Ugh. They all blend together.
45) How many concerts did you see in 2007?
A few! The Go! Team, Bat for Lashes, Damien Rice... I think I may be missing one or two...
46) Did you have a favorite concert in 2007?
I fell in love with Bat for Lashes. But The Go! Team was an awesome show!
47) did you do a lot of drugs in 2006?
None and I never will.
48) How much money did you spend in 2007?
I was actually more frugal this year than most because of all our moving expenses and vet bills. Still spent a lot of money on my bike(s).
49) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
Don't accept cursed objects from negative people, and Los Angeles isn't as horrible as I feared.
50) What are your plans for 2007?
I want to keep working on Sabrina, I want to complete my project for TOKYOPOP, I want to make Dollar Dreadfuls a success and take a vacation!!
What can I say? 2007 has been a crappy year overall. I honestly can't wait for it to be over and get a mental fresh start in '08.
It really feels like this year has been one of my most disjointed, most stressful years yet. As someone who's moved every 3 years or so growing up, and who's used to adjusting to new places, I never thought moving to California would be such a life-changing event. I'm enjoying life in California, for sure, but it kind of feels like the move was akin to a large rock dropping into the still pond that was my life, and the ripples still haven't subsided.
Looking back on my resolutions for 2007 I'm bummed to see that I didn't meet most of them:
I resolved to complete Mangaka 2 and 3... which... obviously didn't happen. Will and I did everything we could do to make it so but the publisher just sat on it and never signed the necessary papers, despite telling us that they really wanted to do more volumes. After a few initial pushes to get it going, Will and I sort of gave up as life got in the way. I think it's something we'd like to do in the future, but now we're both too busy with other projects.
I also resolved to keep My Poorly Drawn Life updated weekly which, obviously, also hasn't happened. I haven't updated in ages. I want to start again in the New Year, but it does take a lot of time to do (despite its rough appearance) and I've already got more work than I know what to do with. Another disappointment...
I resolved to finish Knit-Wits which was, in fact, one partial success. I didn't get the whole thing done but I managed to get a 16 page ashcan done which I sold at Felt Club this year. It felt good to get a small project done that was *mine* alone, and not something I was hired to do. It's been a long time since I've done something for myself that way. I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope to expand on it next year.
I resolved to get a table at San Diego Comic Con... I tried, but was denied. Oh, well. I still went and had a good time.
I resolved to travel somewhere new and I did! I went to Toronto for a convention and met and hung out with a bunch of Canadian artists such as Eric Kim and Rosemary Mosco, and Svetlana Chmakova! That was fun.
I resolved to help Will finish some of his own comic projects but because of everything that happened this year, his side projects were unfortunately put on the back-burner. He does have a promising project that I can't reveal just yet... we're anxiously awaiting a resolution to the writers' strike so that it can get rolling again. We'll see!
Lastly, I resolved to read more books. Which I did! Still not as many as I would have liked but much more than last year.
Anyway, I feel a little disappointed in my resolutions from last year but things were just so crazy this year, life-wise, family-wise, work-wise. I've also been taking a hard look at myself and my accomplishments and trying to figure out how I might feel more fulfilled in my future work. One thing I'm realizing is that I enjoy writing more than drawing. I see other artists on my friends list and I see them constantly posting amazing art that they make just for fun! It's almost like they can't NOT draw. But me? The only time I pick up a pencil these days is if I HAVE to. I only draw for my paid jobs and that's it. I don't even keep a sketchbook anymore... it's kind of sad in a way but I realized that I write the way that others draw. I write all the time. When I'm not working, I'm writing. And I do it for fun. So that sort of leads into my resolutions for next year:
1. Write More. I want to possibly attempt a novel. I want to write way more Dollar Dreadfuls.
Speaking of Dollar Dreadfuls, I resolve to:
2. Get Dollar Dreadfuls off the ground, open our online store, and create more content. Every place we've sold them, they've done amazingly well, so Will and I really want to focus on these for next year!
3. I resolve to be more healthy. I'm going to take vitamins and exercise more. I think this will improve my mood and productivity. I think I also want to learn to cook so we don't eat so much fast food and tv dinners.
4. Go on vacation with Will. Will and I haven't really gotten much of a break this year, and the last time we went on a trip together was over a year ago. I really want to go somewhere where we can just unwind and see something new.
I guess that's it for next year. I don't want to set the bar too high, I just want to get through next year with minimum drama.
Hope you all have a fun New Year's Eve and a happy, healthy 2008!
1) Was 2007 a good year for you?
Not really. See above.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
Nothing too specific comes to mind...
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Realizing we had to leave New York and move to California...
4) Where were you when 2007 began?
At a crowded party in a tiny apartment filled with smoke and people we didn't know.
6) Where will you be when 2007 ends?
Hanging out at home for a low-key evening!
7) Who will you be with when 2007 ends?
Will and my doggies
8) Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not really. Again, see above.
9) Did you travel outside of the US in 2007?
Yes! Toronoto, Canada!
10) How many different states did you travel to in 2007?
Quite a few! 17, in fact!: NJ, MA, CT, PA, OH, IN, IL, WI, MN, IA, NE, CO, NM, AZ, CA, GA, and FL!
11) What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More savings
12) What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 30th, when Will and I began our cross-country trip to Cali.
13) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing my 30th issue of Sabrina, launching the Dollar Dreadful Family Library, knitting a sweater
14) What was your biggest failure?
Taking on more projects than I can handle
15) Where did most of your money go?
Moving expenses, higher rent, expensive vet bills
16) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a new bike and learning to ride it!
17) What song will always remind you of 2006?
Nothing Really by Stefy, Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John, Horse and I by Bat for Lashes, and Postcards from Italy by Beirut
18) What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
I learned to drive, I knit a sweater and learned to ride a fixed-gear bike!
19) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope!
20) Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.
21) Did you suffer illness or injury?
No! In fact I hardly got sick at all!
22) What was the best thing you bought?
My fixie! And more Blythes, of course!
23) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Will has always been a great support system when times are rough
24) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George W. Bush (as usual)
25) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier/Sadder: Sadder
Thinner/Fatter: I've gained some weight but not much
Richer/Poorer: Richer overall, but still spend too much and save not enough
26) What do you wish you’d done more of?
Played more videogames
27) What do you wish you’d done less of?
Feeling mopey
28) Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes!
29) What was your favorite TV program?
I haven't watched much TV of late... still enjoy Project Runway and American Idol!
30) Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, but there are people I feel disappointed in
31) What was the best book you read?
Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter 7!
32) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bat for Lashes!!
33) What did you want and get?
A new bike(s)! More Blythes!
34) What did you want and not get?
My wants were few this year, so I was fulfilled!
35) What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmm... didn't see many movies this year. Juno was really good. Atonement and Harry Potter were ok too. I thought Golden Compass was disappointing.
36) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and hung out with Will, Feaver and Cathy!
37) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had worked on more personal projects, as always.
38) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Much more colorful this year. I'm digging the 80's comeback fashions and rainbows. I like wearing what I like even though people have told me my sense of fashion is "interesting" which means "weird" I guess.
39) What kept you sane?
Same answer as last year: Writing and journaling. It’s the only thing that keeps me grounded when everything else is crazy.
40) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp, Cillian Murphy, Alan Rickman
41) What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing specific... just getting reaaaaally excited for next year's election.
42) Who did you miss?
Raina and Mike in NY and Lisa and John in CO! And my family in Atlanta.
43) Who was the best new person you met?
My new friends in Cali are pretty cool!
44) What was your favorite month of 2007?
Ugh. They all blend together.
45) How many concerts did you see in 2007?
A few! The Go! Team, Bat for Lashes, Damien Rice... I think I may be missing one or two...
46) Did you have a favorite concert in 2007?
I fell in love with Bat for Lashes. But The Go! Team was an awesome show!
47) did you do a lot of drugs in 2006?
None and I never will.
48) How much money did you spend in 2007?
I was actually more frugal this year than most because of all our moving expenses and vet bills. Still spent a lot of money on my bike(s).
49) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007
Don't accept cursed objects from negative people, and Los Angeles isn't as horrible as I feared.
50) What are your plans for 2007?
I want to keep working on Sabrina, I want to complete my project for TOKYOPOP, I want to make Dollar Dreadfuls a success and take a vacation!!