As good as any place and time to start this…
Well, hello there. What?s this? A blog. Why? Not sure. For whom? Me to write, you to read…that?s ?whom?.
Seriously though, this blog is my attempt, feeble as may ultimately be, to create an online diary of sorts. You might even call it a companion piece to my Diary of a Cartoonist podcast (iTunes), where I kinda let people into my personal life as a father, husband, and American dude on a regular basis. The big difference will be, this site is for READING! Remember reading? Reading is great.
But why now? I figure what better time than New Years Eve, 2009. I?m about to head out into the foggy mist that is 2010, and I?d like to do it with this new blog in tow. I?ve found over the years that the best way for me to be consistently doing something I need to do, my best bet is to put it on the internet, have people expect it regularly, and force me to follow through on my commitment to self, country, and Zeus.
Enough about all that…you know what I?m doing and why you might wanna be here. If you?ve not left yet, then continue on with the point of this post with me, won?t you?
I?ve been giving considerable thought to the upcoming decade. A result of this kind of thinking is having my brain bound and dragged back through the decade that is now ending. (Well, technically it ends in 2011, but you know what I mean.)
The 2000?s had more life markers for me than any of the previous three combined. Yes, that?s how long I?ve been on this rock…4 decades worth, and counting. I?d prefer not to dwell on that fact. So I wont. Back to the point.
Highlights and lowlights for me in the 00?s where as follows:
My son, Nick was born in May of 2000. My third child, and an awesome kid in every measurable respect, Nick?s birth was a wonderful time for all of us, and I honestly don?t remember what life was like with out him.
June 11th of 2001 I started the ExtraLife webcomic and blog…way back when blog wasn?t really much of a word yet. Neither were webcomics I guess, but that was going to change and fast. It marks the start of what would be my future profession, more or less. Had no idea at the time.
My father died in June of 2000. A horrible moment for me, and far too soon in his still young life. The whole thing forced me to grow up a little. What? A 30 year old that needed to grow up? Shocking.
October of 2004 was not a good time in my life. I was having a really stressful time with a company I was working for at the time, and visited a doctor asking for help with the resulting tension headaches I was experiencing. He gave me pills. I did zero research, no question asking, nothing…I just took three a day like he asked, trusting fully in doctors and western medical practices. That was a mistake.
I?d MAYBE taken a Tylenol once or twice in my life time, and now I was being fed a pill that, among other things, ?can cause seizures, anxiety disorders, fainting spells, sever headaches, disruption in motor function, paranoia, rigidity in muscles and extremities, blurred vision…? The list goes on. I mean it REALLY goes on.
How did it effect me? After 30 days of use, I had ALL those symptoms and more and thought I was dying…literally. I lost 30 pounds in 20 days. I didn?t suspect the medication until another month of use went by, and once I did, I quit cold turkey in anger. That was a bad move too, but there was no other way out for me. I?d been mis-prescribed, badly handled by a family doctor, and extremely naive about what I was taking. I wasn?t about to extend the horror by touching those things one more time. The next 6 months were hell.
Just to put people at ease, things did get better over time, and while I am STILL not out of the woods symptom-wise even today, the experience turned out to a good thing in a very strange way. More on that in a bit. I?d just say this: Never take anything from a doctor at face value and assume he has your very best interests at heart. They don?t. Do your homework. I wish I?d had. -1 to me. (But +20 to awesome supportive wife and kids.)
Speaking of seizures, in early 2005 my then nearly 12 year old daughter started having actual seizures. They started happening at night, and were the kind that woke her up, and she was awake for their duration, which was typically 30 seconds to a minute. We took her in for tests, and they determined that she had a little electrical hiccup in her brian that was causing these, and they wanted to put her on medicine for 2 years.
Having been through what I had just gone through, and was STILL going through with my medical poop sack, I said no. There was a strong theory that she was suffering from what science calls, ?Pubescent Focal Seizures?, which occur to an alarming number of young girls who are about to, or are just entering puberty. The research states that 9 our of 10 people effected see the seizures taper off over time, and leave all together at a point.
So I was presented with a decision: Be a chicken fart and put my daughter on medication that ?often results in sterility, hampered cognitive growth, and muscle ticks.?, or I could manage this as a family, give it the time it needs to either stay or go, and weigh our options then. I wen?t with the latter. She has been seizure-free for 2 years.
I should mention that 2004/2005 were the years that Podcasting happened, and I jumped in with both feet. Some people have noticed, and my web stats reflect this, that there was a HUGE jump in content from me in early 2005. They are correct. I went crazy with this stuff, primarily because I was going through personal hell with my pill crap, and I wanted to prove to the world and myself that I could not only rise above all that, but beat anything I had been capable of before that event. There was no turning back now. It was get busy living time for me.
We also moved to a new house in late 04, which was nuts, but no one cares about that.
The sites grew, the comics grew, the shows grew, the community grew, and my family grew. Did I mention Nerdtacular? No idea what we are gonna do this year, but it?s gonna be epic.
56 Geeks happened, my print business took off, things were good. 2008 turned out to be the biggest year yet for just about everything I was doing. Figured I could only go down from there. I was wrong. 2009 beat 2008 to within an inch of its life.
In June of 2009, I finally made the jump that terrified me: Starting FrogPants, LLC and becoming a full time illustrator and media creator…for myself. I was scared, but it has easily been one of the best decisions I have ever made..ever. At least so far.
I launched Current Geek, Film Sack, The Morning Doodle, 56 Zombies, Shmerp.com, FourCast (with Tom), and a hand full of other major projects since that day in June. I love every second.
So why am I telling you all of this? No idea, but that?s kind of the point of this blog for me. A way to keep a journal, share with you, and hear your stories. My goal for 2010 is to post in here as often as is possible. I hope that a few of you will enjoy the ride. Here?s to a great new year for all of us!
Category: Journal 13 comments »
December 31st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Good luck with keeping up another blog Scott, I hope you don’t get stretched too thin.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
As if you need something else to do.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Good going man, looking forward to getting to know you through your blog. Don’t forget about it!
December 31st, 2009 at 9:31 pm
This was a great read to get a look at how you made the most of a decade.
I want to say that you’re a huge inspiration to me and my work. I turn 30 this year and while I’ve done some good with my life I’ve never started and stuck with anything really big, and as time went on I started thinking that it was just too late to do anything monumental.
Then I look at what you’ve accomplished starting at the same age that I am now and becoming one of the most prolific and famous podcasters with a huge following and leveraged that into a successful business. You did all of that while raising a family and holding down a day job.
It makes me realize that there’s nothing preventing me from doing something similar besides my own personal demons of procrastination, distraction, and fear of failure. If I go into 2010 doing something, anything, creative every day, and putting that out there for people to see, I could leave the decade with the kind of self-made artistic career you’ve built.
Thanks, Scott, for showing me that it can be done. As soon as you announce Nerdtacular 2010 I’m taking time off work and booking my tickets and hotel so I can come out there and shake your hand.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
That was quite an insight into your life Scott, will be great to follow another of your blogs though!
December 31st, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I just started playing WoW in February and subsequently discovered your podcast (The Instance) and then your comics and other podcasts. I liked hearing what lead you to this place. Great job and looking forward to what you have to say, er type.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Inspiring, all the best for you and yours in twentyten!
December 31st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I’ve been listening to all your podcasts for quite some time and I’m glad you’re getting into the blogging … however if you put too much more of yourself online you’re going to have start twittering pictures of your food like Randy does!
December 31st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Look forward to reading more of this, it’s always interesting! That’s a real inspiring story too how you took a pretty hellish time and turned it into this great community,and also podcasting and general geekery empire! Hope to see yall at a Nerdtacular in the future and best of luck in 2010!
January 1st, 2010 at 12:46 am
This was very interesting to read. I’ve been following a few of your podcasts and websites over the last year. I first started off listening to TheInstance podcast and really enjoyed it. Since then, I have taken a break from WoW but I still enjoy listening to your Extra Life Radio podcast.
I must say that I am jealous of your career. Making podcasts, comics, and everything web related would be awesome. For most people this is merely a hobby. I think it is amazing that you are able to do this full time as a job.
I look forward to reading more blog entries. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year to you!
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:01 am
Scott,
Having discovered your works right after coming home from the Marine Corps, I must tell you that I have enjoyed every single moment of them. I subscribe to every one of your podcasts as well as Tom Merritt’s. It amazes me as to how well you are able to converse with your peers over so many subjects in addition to putting it all together in a nice neat little package at the end. Thanks to you, I have just started 2 podcasts of my own and I hope that I can one day have even the smallest slice of the success you have had. I will be moving out to Orem in the near future and I look forward to meeting you and everyone else at Nerdtacular 2010. Thank you for what you have unknowingly inspired me to do as it has brought a whole new level of enjoyment to my otherwise mundane lifestyle.
PS. I would be curious to know what medication you were put on as I had similar issues while in the military.
January 7th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Scott-
I first started to listed with the instance, found ELR, and have become a big fan for a long time. One of the reasons I like listening is that while I have never heard any of this on any of the other podcasts, I like that it always seems to us that you are who you are. That the conversations you have on ELR are the same conversations you would have on your living room couch. Thats what I like. Its for this reason that I listen to you and others that have done podcasting with you for some time. Thanks for the insight, the great content, and have happy 2010!
January 7th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
hey mate,
I discovered The Instance, about 3 months back and have been hooked ever since. But more than that, I’ve been hooked on all the stuff you guys do (podcasts and even the comic).
Great stuff mate and I look forward to the ride ahead!