the update.

as impersonal as i try to be on this blog, it is clear that over time, my emotions shine through. things have been really strange for me lately here in the big apple, but i have to say, with the support from my roommates and my friends, perseverence has a chance.

it would be too easy for me to flee to the west coast, back into the safehaven of my home in las vegas, the security of my family, easy money and sunny days in the back of my head. what happened to the challenge of living here in the most amazing metropolis in the world?

i've given it a lot of thought. and the flight instinct has transformed into a fight instinct. i think i'm going to stick it out here.

thanks everyone for your support...whether e-words, or in-person hugs, it's your strength that's helped me arrive to this conclusion.

bad omens.

many bad omens have appeared in my life this month. this one just takes the cake.

i'm not even kidding, i'm freaked out beyond comprehension.

should i leave New York City?

the flyer above - my neighbor across the hall had his brains splattered all over our hallway this morning at 4:15am in the morning.

and because i had to open my gym at 5am in the morning, i stayed with a friend who lived closer to my workplace so my commute would be shorter.

which means, my life may have been spared by this one decision to not stay at my apartment last night, because i would have been leaving my apartment at approximately 4-4:15AM this morning, the exact time the murder was taking place.

i'm really freaked out. that's all i have to say.

here comes the end of the year...

so the end of the year is nearly here, and i'm trying not to let my prone-to-self-reflective head get to me too much. i've been reorganizing and reorganizing. my work schedule has been flipping on me, so readjusting has really been the issue. things take so long in this city. it's really weird.

turkey day is coming up and i'll be spending it with friends in jersey city, where i've never been. i'm excited to have a thanksgiving in New York. my last thanksgiving in New York was in Buffalo with my ex's family....it was cold, but it had a nice old feel to it, and it was the best italian food of my life.

the talented and handsome Derek James and i have recently decided to join forces and animate a music video together. i just got back from spending nearly 4 hours storyboarding the entire video with him. it was geniusness at work!! it's going to be A LOT of work, but we're really excited, and i think it's going to turn out great and really make things happen for the both of us. i'll have some drawings of that up pretty soon. some t-shirts and posters will be in the works of getting produced as well, so be on the look out.

i'm also in the middle of building a desk for myself here at the apartment. it's a project that shouldn't take longer than another day. i need some sandpaper. luckily, there is a home depot conveniently down the street from where we live. seriously, things are so spread out and hidden away in this town, if it wasn't for mapquest and store locators, i would be so lost.

one more thing that i'm working on this next week is the third printing of Romance 101. it will be its debut printing in New York City, which i'm pretty excited about. i'm starting out with ten copies, and i think i've already sold about 7. if i keep this up, things could be really great for James and Ophelia.

the new Friendship 101 is coming along, too. my latest drawing is: Friends Defend Friends in Traffic. you should be able to preview that soon.

oh, and the fox, bunny, chair drawing is from a weird dream i had this morning. i was in a bunny suit and was traveling home from work (which was some kind of restaurant with a swimming/ocean theme...you literally had to swim to get to your tables), and well, rather than walking, i was riding a rolly chair that was actually a living, breathing thing. and all of a sudden i get attacked by these wolves (or, foxes..) with these crazy teeth.....and then i got woken up by a phonecall. so, that explains the drawing. i don't know if i'll take it any further. sure was fun to draw though.

time for a run. peace out.

happy entrails,
vanissa.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR SCORPIOS...

moving here to the big apple, i've never met so many scorpios in my life. and they're ALL artists. this zodiac stuff freaks me out!

overwhelmed.how i'm still asleep, i have no idea. i've been working full-time, working out like mad, and also taking on freebie projects like crazy and my productivity level isn't even that high. i'm on overload and i'm about to pass out. blah. i'm behind, behind, behind. forgive me people.

this posted is another sketch of some new developing Spike Brigade characters. these are Edison A, B, and C, respectively. so, what do you think?

ok, i really have to pass out now. i can't believe it's 10pm.

HE,v.

my godfather's birthday.

my godfather Uncle Matti's birthday is at midnight tonight. he is solely responsible for introducing me to the comic world at the very young age of 3 or 4. he introduced me to those comics that we all grew up with, archie's, heathcliff, garfield, peanuts, and most importantly, my greatest influence, calvin and hobbes.

in addition to being a huge artistic influence during my childhood and to this day, my Uncle Matti serves also as a second father to me, and a life long mentor -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNCLE MATTI!!! you mean the WORLD to me and i love you with all my heart!!!

at the top, some happy kats i drew for him.

HE,
vanissa.