I just wanted to say that I officially submitted my comic book on Wednesday to a company called Dark Horse Comics. They are the number three comic book publisher behind Marvel and DC. The big draw to Dark Horse – who produces, among others, the Star Wars comics and Buffy comics – is that all the material is creator owned. That, in a nutshell, means that some d-bag isn’t going to come along and do whatever they want with my characters without my permission. So, score on that front. Anyway, I figure that the comic is there by now, so I am officially starting the countdown. The website says that if you don’t hear back from them within a month, you have been rejected. So, I guess within the month I’ll know if I got my dream job or not. That’s terrifying crap. Honestly, I think I’m more afraid of it working out than I am being rejected. Rejection leads to binge eating and determination. Acceptance leads to contracts and deadlines and editors and fan reaction. Major fear there. So, anyway, I guess just be on the lookout for updates on that, and a huge huge huge thanks to those of you who helped edit it!
Plans have always been a comfort thing for me. When my life feels like it’s crashing down around me, I normally make an action-plan, and I calm down. I like plans. Plans provide security.
Honestly I struggle with the concept of plans a lot. Or rather, the “morality” of them for lack of a better word. Many times, I wonder if it’s ok to be safe – either as a result of where you live, how much money you earn, or having a plan. I once heard that we should make plans so that we can lay them at God’s feet. This sounds like good advice, but then again how often does Christian radio tell you something you don’t want to hear?
Regardless, I have a lot of plans for my life, but nothing I am holding onto so tight I won’t let God take it. I think that’s healthy, but who am I? Anyway, I plan to become a comic-book writer. I wrote a whole script, and plotted the series out, in detail, for eighteen months (and less detailed for another 20, with vague ideas for another 12 or so). I have everything I need done, and all I have to do is mail it in. If everything works out the way I’d like it, I end up with my dream job. From there I become a bigger name, move into the television industry, and write my two favorite mediums of story-telling for as long as I want. Sweet.
Of course, life doesn’t always go according to plan, which is why I have what my parents would call “a real major” – Financial Services & Planning. Basically that means I tell people what to do with their money. Awesome, because people are stupid, and need someone to tell them that. Honestly, I think I could do that for a living and be perfectly happy. It would certainly provide security, and it is something I enjoy.
Recently, however, I’ve been realizing more and more that I really like fitness and nutrition. The Biggest Loser makes me so happy. I think I could make a really good personal trainer. I think it’s kind of the same skills as a Financial Planner – encourage people, but kick them in the rear to get them moving. Working out and eating right is something I really enjoy, but moreover, I really get a kick out of other people doing it too.
So with that in mind, I feel like I have two options in front of me post-graduation (assuming that the comic doesn’t work out immediately).
My first idea is to go to Grad School. Now, if you know me, that might shock you. If you don’t know me that well, here is why that is a strange thing for me to say (get ready for a no-punctuation, stream-of-consciousness rant): Basically I think that people my age have been so petrified of living in the real world because their parents emotionally handicapped them as children that they will do whatever it takes to delay reality until they feel ready which generally means going to grad school. In addition I have been tired of school since mid-high school and I don’t really feel like college has been an extremely rewarding experience thus far and I really just want it to end so I can get on with the parts of life I am looking forward to (wife, kids, herb garden, vegetable garden, house, lawn, company barbeques, little-league games, family reunions, etc). Now, back to what I was really saying. I seriously see grad school as an option. I kind of always figured I’d go to grad school for something, but it would be a few years after I was done with college. Personally I hope to go to A&M grad school. I don’t know if that makes you an official Aggie, but it’s enough for me. 
So yeah, go to grad school, get a Masters in Nutrition or Kinesiology, and become a personal trainer. Not that you need a masters, but it doesn’t hurt. It also adds versatility to my resume.
Option Two is something that only recently came to me as well. All my life, I’ve had great skill at languages. When I lived in Norway, I was put into the Advanced Norwegian class after just a month or two of being in the country (although they later put me in Intermediate because Advanced was only for native speakers). I took French in high school, and besides finding it easy, I still retain a ton of it, even after almost five years. I also took Japanese, and didn’t find it that hard either. I also really like travelling, and Europe. So when I put those together, combined with my degree, I came up with “Banker in Switzerland.” I figure I’d need a little more skill in both French and German to be desirable as an employee, so I’m thinking I might try to spend a year or two teaching English (another passion of mine) in Switzerland while I learn French and German, and then try to get a job in the Banking Center of the world.
Anyway, I was just really excited about these options, and thought I had to share. Of course I still hope the comic works out, but as far as back-up plans go, these are pretty wonderful. Besides, if all else fails, I’m joining the Amish, a monastery, or a farm.
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Tonight saw the much-anticipated return of Bryan Fuller to Heroes. In case you don’t know, Fuller created Pushing Daisies. More importantly (to Heroes at least), he wrote the single best episode of the show: Company Man. He was highly involved in the first (epic) season of the show, but left to create Pushing Daisies. Now that that show is (most unfortunately) deceased, he has returned to this show. And for the first time in over a year, it DIDN’T SUCK. Here are some reasons why.
1) Characters were witty.
That’s right. The show was actually humorous. Ando and Hiro, who were my favorite plot line in Season 1, have been too bogged down by Hiro’s power loss and Ando’s theoretical “betrayal” for far too long. This episode saw some great character interaction between them. I don’t want to give it away, but a baby was involved.
2) Characters were deep.
Somehow, even though Ando and Hiro stole the spotlight in terms of comic relief, they also had some of the most genuine reflection and depth I’ve seen on the show for a while. There were some pretty good scenes with Matt and Daphne, even if you’re not a huge fan of them together.
3) There was no Nathan Petrelli
Nathan has been one of the most frustrating characters over the course of the show, at least to me. Mainly because he never seems to make any sense. Season One, he was pretty much a jerk with hidden niceness. That was cool. Then he was hurt, then he was healed, then he was shot, then he thought he was a prophet. Then he wasn’t. Then he saw what happened when bad people get powers, so decided that everyone needed powers, and joined his evil father. Then he decided that instead we should just lock up everyone with powers, even though he is one of them. Well, he wasn’t in the episode. Barely even a mention. Good.
4) There was no Claire
In Season One, I actually really liked Claire. I mean, I’m a sucker for teenagers developing powers and having to hide them from their parents. There was high school drama, and it was kind of cool to see an indestructable cheerleader. But then over the course of the next few seasons, it’s like the writers saw her try to kill herself in the first episode, and decided that “emo” was her defining characteristic. I’m so tired of her angsting about her daddy/daddies issues, and her need to be a big girl, and how she “just can’t feel anything inside.” So yeah, less is more, at least for now.
5) Trimming the cast
Going along with the last two, it was really nice that rather than trying to cram 12 characters’ plot-lines into one episode, they focused on just a few. It can back-fire if used too much, but for right now I think it was a good move. Also, I won’t spoil anything, but two characters were killed off (sort of?), which should give the other characters some room to breathe.
6) Swoosie Kurtz
That’s right. The bitter one-eyed drunk (no, not Col. Tigh) from Pushing Daisies was on Heroes. She didn’t really do much, but just seeing her made me happy.
7) The Return of Familiar Faces.
Again, without spoiling anything, a couple characters from Season One make their return. One has to do with Baby Matt Parkman, so maybe you can guess who, and the other is Rebel, who you probably guessed the true identity of from the first text message. Both of these characters were abandoned with little to no justification, so it’s nice to see them back.
8] Angela Petrelli and Noah Bennet
Yay for morally grey characters. I’ve been a big fan of both of these Primatech veterans since the beginning, and they both have significant screen time this episode
9) Sylar
Much like Nathan, I feel like Sylar has been handled very poorly recently. Season One, terrifying. Season Two, surrounded by obnoxious latinos who contributed nothing to the overall plot and are better off dead. Season Three, tries to be good, which was both hilarious and wonderful. Then he decided to work for his “dad.” Then he decided to kill his girlfriend and just be evil for no real reason. Then he picked up a really annoying fanboy with emotional problems (frankly he reminded me way too much of Pyro in the X-Men movies). Sylar wasn’t in this episode, but it looks like he’s returning to his sadistic side from Season One. Excellent
10) I don’t know what else to say. Peter was only briefly in the episode. I love that he can only have one power at a time. They needed to do that a long time ago. Mohinder’s role was minimal, which is good because he is th DUMMEST DOCTOR/GENIUS ON THE PLANET. Seriously, has he ever made a good decision? In the history of the show? Ugh. Tracy Strauss redeemed herself, which was long over due.
So yeah, I’m not saying the show was perfect, but it really felt a LOT like a First Season episode. The writing was spot on, and the plot was handled much better than normal. Cool action shots. So go watch.
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