Post 273: TiVo Evo and REVOlution...

Yes, I am a TiVo user. Have been since my wedding, and actually since BEFORE it. My buddy Fubar got me hooked on TiVo (Not normal DVR, but REAL TiVo) when we had an apartment together. We were probably two of the few that actually had TiVo back in its inception, or shortly after.

Now, he got me one for my wedding (him, his parents and our buddy Arnie, to be exact)and I'm looking to get rewards points. Here's how it works...

You refer my email address: rpotchak@gmail.com

After you contact to sign up for TiVo service.

After that, you register like you do with anything. It's pretty simple...afterwards, you just tell your friends that sign up for it and refer you! See, free gifts and possible TiVo Series 3 HD tuners...AWESOME.

Post 272: So much crap.

I was going to use another four letter word to describe what has been going on in my life recently, and today is another depression filled one. I was basically forced to listen to someone who thought they knew what was going on's opinion all night last night, and though he's a friend and I care about him, it was terribly wrong for him to want to come down on me like that, especially when Christy and I are attempting to settle things and be more than just civil with each other.

Couple that with the fact that I feel like a jerk for something I believe in my heart to be right about how I handled a situation with my wife...and I don't think I should.

The myspace page is up and although I don't have any catchy graphics or music on there, anyone who is on Myspace is more than welcome to give a shout out...

http://www.myspace.com/potsandpansink

Anyway, on days like this, I just wish I could not wake up, and just dream for more hours than I ever do. Two nights ago, I dreamt of scoring the game winning overtime goal in probably the most vivid dream I've ever had, and then when I went into the lockerroom to celebrate and clean up, I woke up. It was crazy. I normally don't have ANY recollection of my dreams, but that one was strong.

As a huge comic book fan, two people that have accepted me as a "friend" on MySpace are Brad Meltzer (who wrote Identity Crisis, and is now writing Justice League of America) and Allan Heinberg (one of the guys behind THE OC and now writes Young Avengers for Marvel and will be writing Wonder Woman for DC). Its silly, I know, but its cool at the same time.

Anyway, before I become a total Myspace-aholic, I'm gonna run!

Post 271: Yes...I'm now on MySpace... :/

UPDATE: Its up. Enjoy...be a friend.

Find me on MySpace and be my friend!

I'm not happy about it, but hell, its probably the easiest way to get the comics looked at a little bit more.

Hopefully people won't call me a sell out. I figure I'll repost a lot of the art that is on here with myspace in the pictures section. So it'll be like a little gallery. Also, I'll be putting the link to the myspace site on the side, but it isn't completely up yet.

I'll post again when I know its up fully.

Post 270: Broken bones, bad fights, holes in walls and bad hockey games...

Wow, that title sort of summed up my weekend.

Thursday night, I left town with my old roommate, Fubar, for a training on Friday. My wife and I were still on rocky ground, but I had to go, because I hadn't been to a training that was 100% worthless for me, so I got told I had to go. We drank an entire bottle of Bacardi O that night, and when I got up the next dayfor the training, I had NO hangover...weird.

Anyway, Saturday, I knew I was going to the Carolina Hurricanes game as they hosted Montreal for the first game of th playoffs. The atmosphere was electric, at least as long as I was in the actual area the game was played. Unfortunately, the game was a 4-1 blowout of the Hurricanes, and I only saw the last two goals...Why? No, not because I didn't get there in time, but because my wife was hammered, got up to go to the bathroom and then Security is trying to remove both of us for her intoxication...of course they were nice about it "We'll call you a cab..." yadda yadda. Anyway, it was shortly after that Christy really turned on me, going against her word and my trust. We went back into the game, and then she ended up heading downstairs again when I got up to use the restroom. Anyway, though nothing else happened with us, my buddy Fubar took a header (we were in the LAST row)and fell a row at the end of the game, and looks to have a bruise about the size of goalie pads on his side. BAD SPILL...real bad...he could barely move sunday, but I'm amazed he was able to walk that night.

Anyway, after the game, I confronted my wife about the lies, deceiving and everything that had occurred at the hockey game, and hidher car keys (because I was afraid she'd try to leave). I told her I was leaving and not coming home. We talked for a while, and she was upset, and I was more upset. Infidelity is not something I handle well, even if it is just implied and nothing is going on. So without being able to answer questions, I snapped, because I was tired of it. NO, I DID NOT HIT MY WIFE. I would NEVER do that. I picked up chairs and threw them, I picked up whatever I could to NOT hit another person or one of my pets.

I started punching the wall post to the kitchen. It hurt, but not so bad when I look back. She still wouldn't answer the questions honestly, claiming to have "drunk dialed," but as she said, only in response to the other person's first calling...this was a flat out lie, and I knew it. She wouldn't answer, so I finally put a hole in the wall (not my intention). Something else happened when I hit the wall though...A Pop...maybe a snap. I calmed back down, since I was now in pain. She started talking and brought up that I said I was leaving, and said that "you're not going to leave now." And I got up and left. She told me to be careful.

I went to my buddy's bar. It was 1:30 when I got there. I had about 5 drinks in the course of that 30 minute span. I was finally feeling able to release. A friend told me to punch him in the arm, so I did...and he wanted me to do it again...now mind you, I have at least one broken knuckle in my drawing hand now, but I kept hitting him until he said, "Okay." Good friend. Heh.

The next morning, Christy was trying to get in touch with me from 10-11:30 when I finally "regained" consciousness, or...woke up. She wanted to talk, but she was leaving town to visit her best friend about 45 minutes away.

Needless to say, she started saying the things that I had been saying the past three weeks..."All i want is for us to work on everything..." "All I want isto be with you right now." "Please forgive me."

We are REALLY working on it, now. Not because I need her, like I did when I hit rock bottom, and not because she hit bottom this week, but because we do love each other, and care a whole lot about the other. And we want to be with each other, now.

All that, and I think she finally realized that Springtime has a way of doing this shit to people...considering now her friends are going through it, too. Its weird, that after all that, I was past just wanting to fix things if it wasn't what she wanted. I was finally beginning to feel more selfish, myself, and began to realize that the guy who would ask her opinion about everything was not who I am.

To anyone out there with similar issues, the question to ask is this...When is enough...Enough? Ultimately, you have to figure out where to draw the line for another person, and when to start acting like yourself again.

I really appreciated all the sympathetic responses, as they mean a lot to me...and who knows, maybe now I can get back to some creative flow. Thanks again, everyone.

Post 269: No title

I'm doing this today because I'm bored. I'm just writing to say thanks to those of you out there reading that decided to give your opinions on what's up with myself and my wife. It means a lot to see people actually caring about whats going on, especially when you haven't met them...its very selfless, and totally appreciated.

Eric, the artist on boh THIEF and TAGGER called me up to catch up last night, and to see how I was doing. We don't get a lot of time to talk, but when we do, we normally pump the other up pretty well with compliments on the works in progress. Last night, he made sure to mention that he's been digging the art I've been doing (until just recently), but he really has been digging JK's ARDY pages, and says that the style is just perfect for the Alien PI, and I couldn't agree more.

We discussed which project we should tackle first, either THIEF or TAGGER, and honestly, since most of you are already fans of TAGGER from his casting in Landis, I figured that'd be the best way to repay you guys. I know that it'll probably be a while before I actually find the motivation to write more, but it is just a dry spell...but Eric admitted, that I've given him enough work to go a couple months to make sure everything is perfect.

On top of that, if anyone else has been having a rough time, and just want someone to chat with, I'd be more than happy to listen. I've got friends who have babies on the way with girls they aren't with, a friend who let his job and hasn't yet found a new one, my situation, my brother's custody battle, and more...but trust me, I'd ratehr help somebody with their issues, rather than continue to ponder on mine.

I guess I'll pretty much leave it there. Things aren't great, but if we work on them, and by that I mean *BOTH* sides, we'll come out of this with a newfound respect and dedication to each other.

Thanks again!

Post 268: Probably going to be a long post.

Hey all,

Been a while since I've been in contact about anything and everything. Springtime is a real bitch to me. Every year at this time, my wife and I go through issues that stem basically from the same thing most relationship problems stem...the fact that one person sees the single life their single friends lead, and it makes them wonder if they've done the right thing by getting married. This is the main thing that's been going on in my life right now, and I've not been talking about it here because as much as I like the folks that read my blog AND my comics, its really personal.

Today, however, I feel a bit different. I feel low, but not depressed like I have the past two weeks. Today my lowness comes from an anger at how selfish one person who is typically selfless is. I know my wife, Christy, won't read this. I can even send her a link, and that'd probably be the only way she'd ever consider reading it. She's wrapped up in school, work, and trying to have a personal life, and she's forgetting a lot of what we have, but again, this is something that happens year after year...and hopefully she'll remember her selfLESSness rather than her selfishness before things get worse.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not fully NOT to blame. I took her for granted. Did the things I wanted to, and allowed her the same freedom. But the difference is when I was told that, I have made strides and efforts to show her how much I appreciate and truly love her.

I'd love for people to comment on this about when they have had problems in relationships, and what time of year they occur. I know most people don't post here, and that kinda sucks, since I know we get about 50 genuine hits reading the blog daily.

Its a real tough time for me, because she's fighting flighty feelings, and she's still doing the things that I have problems with, but we're working on it...at least I keep being told that.

This has prevented me from doing ANYTHING creative in the past two weeks, after I had two REALLY good scripts in the can for Tagger. I haven't even turned on my X-Box 360 since the whole debacle. So all my releases haven't been what I've gone and turned to, because they just don't fill the void enough right now.

Thanks for listening, and feel free to comment. I'd like to see what everyone out there is going through...just do me a favor, don't pity me...I don't need it, since again, I'm more mad about the selfishness than anything else.

Post 267: Update on me...

Just figured I'd let everyone know that the problems at home are being worked on, and we're trying to make sure that things get better.

With that said, I've been under the weather as well, but am trying to not let it affect me as much.

I'm probably going to take a little time off from writing, but not enough to make it look like I'm not doing anything...its just other things are more important, and I hope you all respect that I'm vague.

However, I will post any new art when I've done something...I just haven't been feeling really creative due to whats going on, but when I get myself through that, I'll definitely be posting more.

Thanks for the support.

Post 266: Update with me and more.

Well, as bad as things have been this past week, they aren't as bad as they have ever been. In fact, I think they are looking...okay.

But it has made me realize that I've been putting on hold a lot of things that I may want to do in my life that may help my home life, or at least make me see that I accomplished something that I've always wanted to do, and that is preparing a Stand Up Comedy routine.

I'm not looking to write a 30 minute show or anything like that, but just something for open mic night, since I live about 30 minutes away from one of the most famous comedy clubs in the country, Charlie Goodnights, and I know that they've got an open mic night.

My wife tells me I should try something smaller, and you know, I'll probably test all the material out prior, anyway...but I think what I'm coming up with is some really good shit. Not exactly all audiences, but definitely funny stuff.

Of course, just because it makes me laugh, doesn't mean it'll make everyone laugh. But in harder times, if you can't laugh, what else have you got?

Post 265: A little better...

Things are looking better than they were, and due to this I'm going to try to get some writing done while at the day job. Not sure if I'll tackle THIEF today or JANUS, but probably one or the other...maybe even Ardy...but since I haven't heard from JK in a couple days, I'm hoping the progress is coming with that.

More later...I may even do some doodles.

Post 264: The one thing that upsets me more than anything else...

There's only one thing in this world that I get truly upset about. Its the closest thing to me in my whole life. I won't get into it, but its putting a serious damper on everything else. I'm more depressed right now than I have been in years.

I will leave it at that.

Post 263: WRESTLEMANIA 22 Predictions!

WWE Championship
John Cena (c) vs. Triple H

Well, I'm going to bold my predictions. I've been thinking about this match and how the outcome will actually CREATE the main event. a person gave me an idea about that, and I'd say that this match will lead into a finale that no one would expect. However, for the sake of argument, HHH walks away with the title, in a decent match...but read the bottom for the finale.

World Heavyweight Championship
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio

Angle's been a decent champ, and as much as I think Vince WANTS to put the title back on Orton to start a god Batista/Orton fued, I figure this match will go to Rey Rey one of two ways...Angle will have Orton near the ropes and Rey will do the 619 to angle and pin him, OR one of two possible Batista appearances...just as Orton is about to win, with the ref knocked out, I expect to see Batista rundown, Batistabomb Orton, and roll Rey on top for the 1-2-3 and a point to Eddie.

No Holds Barred Match
Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels

Anybody who thinks this match will end with a Bret Hart spot is laughable. Not gonna happen, but expect to see the McMahon's rundown to help, and I'd say that I'd LOVE to see Steve Austin cmoe down to help HBK out, but expect Shawn to win after seriously gushing.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Ric Flair vs. Finlay vs. Matt Hardy vs. Lashley

Toughest match of the night to call, IMO. I go with Flair, since they've been giving him more mic time then anyone else in this. Although RVD is the most over, I think Lashley will take a bump, Shannon Moore will knock Hardy out of the match, Finlay will just disappear, and when Benjamin is on the ladder, Flair will crotch him, thus knocking him out and taking the box for himself...more on this at the end.

Casket Match
Undertaker vs. Mark Henry

Possible Batista spot, #2. I say Batista comes out from inside the casket and causes Henry to lose. Does this mean TWO Batista spots? As great as that would be...no. If Batista shows up in this match, he'll be kept out of the title picture until Summerslam.

Hardcore Match
Edge vs. Mick Foley

Foley is 1-3 since returning parttime...a tag match with the Rock, LOSS. One on One with Randy Orton...LOSS (GREAT MATCH, though) and Carlito at Taboo Tuesday...WIN. Foley is used asthe guy that takes a beating to really put over the growing heel. Due to this, as much of a Foley mark as I am...Foley loses after a tremendous amount of punishment. I'd say at LEAST 4 chair shots and thumbtacks a must. I'd say that Foley will even get to use some barb wired items...

United States Championship
Chris Benoit (c) vs. JBL

Two years ago, this would have main evented a PPV...now, look how far down the card it is...BOO...A decent match to be had, and the LOSER will move on to face the third one in the Main Event...in other words, Expect JBL to win (he;s been losing a lot recently) and Benoit to go on to matches with Angle...THAT's what I want to see.

World Tag Team Championship
Kane & Big Show (c) vs. Chris Masters & Carlito

With all the bickering and fighting beating Carlito and Masters, who DOESN'T want these guys to win? Could be one of the worst matches of the night, or a surprisingly good one.

Women's Championship
Trish Stratus (c) vs. Mickie James

How far the women's dvision has fallen. Mickie wins, totally HEELING out.

Playboy Pillow Fight
Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle

Filler match. No one ever actually wins these matches, so expect it to air after the MITB match, to slow the pace.

Boogeyman vs. Booker T & Sharmell

Boogeyman continues his roll...but will it be at the 4 minute mark like the last one (JBL)?


This brings me to the surprise of the night. I think either Hogan or Austin will continue their jabber from the Hall of Fame celebration, which would be fun. But the real MAIN EVENT will be Ric Flair taking his Money in the Bank match and winning the world title for the 17th time. This is the only real way this maks sense. Heck, I'd even like to see Cena KEEP his title, and then Flair go against him, and win...this would allow...the CENA HEEL TURN. Cena loses, and snaps...starts with a chair to Flair, taking him out. The eyes bright, the nose flairing, and Cena standing over him, looking at the crowd and saying, "You had yuor chance...you can't see me anymore." Classic WM ending. Also allows him to Heel out against the strong Flair FACE.

Post 262: Poor Conner Kent

This week, in the latest issue of Action Comics, there is a scene of Lex Luthor standing in front of the statue that was created when Superman died. However, it was now next to a statue of Superboy, seemingly having died in Infinite Crisis... BEFORE the final issues of Infinite Crisis were to come out.

A quick commentary on this thought process...this would technically be the first POST SUPERBOY era issue, thus making it the clear collector's item, however, it won't be...the issue of Infinite Crisis where both Superboy (E1) and Superboy Prime collide and die will be the collector's issue.

What I wonder is...does anyone really care about Conner Kent? The fact that he was a clone of Superman's DNA mixed with Lex Luthor's DNA was a huge shock element, and the fact that he turned on his peers due to the words that Luthor hid in him was cool. Mix that with the fact that him and Wondergirl just had their first sexual experiences together (thus leading to the possibility of a child) and more, this character was getting interesting...but getting interesting is not BEING interesting.

I worry that this happening was too early, since the character had only been created when the death of Superman occurred, meaning, he hadn't been around that long.

When the FLASH died in Crisis on Infinite Earths, he was a character with twenty years of TRUE history, and 50 years of Legacy. This Superboy was 10 years old (MAYBE) with no real established Legacy to anything other than the S wrapped in black.

Maybe I'm being hard on the creators, but this one seemed like it was done at the wrong time.

And the last one. This one is of Batman in the background, but with his former protege, Jason Todd in the foreground. This one was about ten minutes of drawing JT and only about 3 minutes of rendering Batman. I think this would be a great convention sketch, but really disappointed me it how little of my thought I was able to make into an image. 

Just more doodling at work with this one. I don't even have a name for it, so I called it "Drawing." I look at the character as a possible Legion of Super-Heroes character for DC. Decided to play with different color inks, too...since its all I had available. 

Bored at work today, so I have three new drawings to post. This first one is of Marvel's character, NOVA. I was discussing a possible 30 minute DRAW OFF to JK and while he was trash talking, I was drawing. So here was my first attempt at a 15 minute drawing...I really like the composition and even the proportion. PLEASE...go ahead and send comments on it...I'd really like the feedback. 

Post 258: Boredom

I'll probably have the first three issues of Tagger's Tale done within therest of the week, the way work is going. I find it crazy that sometimes I can write for two or three hours and really put good work down, and then sometimes I'll go weeks or months without it...like THIEF. I wrote two issues with NO trouble...then "the fever" struck. I couldn't write anymore of it. My own personal hypeon the story just showed that it was TOO GOOD of a story for me to write, that I started feeling like I was cutting corners rushing to keep the flow right...and I just didn't have it.

THIEF is a story I want to have completed before I do anything with it, and Eric knows this. He's been patient with me, and I've been patient with him. We've been working on it close to a year already with just a little more than 30 pages penciled (not near completion, yet).

Its no wonder that writers like Bendis have to phone in issues and mess up a well written title or five...and that's sad. It also makes me wonder how Geoff Johns can write five or six QUALITY titles all the time and never slack off.

So JK and I are going to attempt our string of 30 minute broadcasts again as soon as both of us are caught up on our weekly wrestlings...which means me this time. We're probably going to do two 30 minutes a week when we are able to, but we'll probably start with one.

On all the other stuff, I'm looking at working in a different word and pictures format to work with, since I'm not nearly as skilled with action panels and such. Very early stages...not sure what it'll amount to.

Post 257: Back from AC...yeesh.

Well,

I had a LOT of fun while in Atlantic City NJ, but I also had a lot of NON-fun... I Lost A LOT of money in the machines, may have lost some just by losing it, and on top of all that, my cell phone was either stolen right off me ($300 phone) or I lost it at the casino.

Well, anyway, with all that, I'm back home, ready to sleep in my own bed and get back to working, so I can make some money...since when I got back I was welcomed with 1)Mortgage payment (this one's covered), credit card payment (also covered) and...CAR INSURANCE...(NOT COVERED YET)...

you ever get that feeling that you knew it was going to be harder than you initially thought, but you do it anyway? I said to my buddy Fubar (that's his nickname), "The only thing I'm worried about coming home to is my car insurance bill..." and then it was there...BOOOOOOOO.

oh well, at least tomorrow I get to get back into my writing and being on here a little more often.

Post 256: Letter from the publisher...

Hey everyone,

This right here is the email I received from Chris this morning explaining why the LOST PILOT is being shown without letters. I have deleted ANYTHING that may be confidential information, as is part of my creator agreement with Keenspot.

---------------------------------

Rob:

Heya! Sorry for being so untalkative lately, been crazy busy. Just
wanted to let you know that I'm running LANDIS: THE LOST PILOT sans
lettering, for these reasons: 1.) I don't have the script and I know
you and Owen probably don't either.. 2.) It's cool to see Owen's
original art without words covering it. I figure this can be a
special treat for web fans, and we'll run the story with lettering
(you may have to rescript it) in the print collection. 3.) I wanted to
cycle through all the available LANDIS material before starting in on
the ARDY stuff, {Deleted}

Thanks!

Your Pal,

Chris Crosby

---------------------------------

So if anyone was wondering if Owen could tell a story without reading the words, you'll soon know.

And not to worry, I WILL find a copy of the script...SOMEWHERE. This way the print edition WILL still have something new and special for everyone (not to mention, I've been told the whole first story WILL be full color).

Post 255: Commissions Anyone?

I haven't done this before, so I'll just go ahead...if there is a character that you would like an 8.5 X 11 drawing of from Landis, or in general (as you've seen, I like to draw a lot of different characters on here), let me know. I think I'm going to do Head shots for $5 and Upperbody shots for $15.

All commissions will be on cardstock, and I'll cover shipping. I take paypal, and right now I'd probably be able to take like 5-10 commissions without too much wait time...

If you are interested, hit me up by email to RPOTCHAK@GMAIL.COM...

Also, if you'd like either JK Radtke or Eric Kent to do a commissioned piece for you, let me know...their pricing may be higher, but you can still ask.

Post 254: Tonight, I give you the SECOND winner in the Landis contests! This is Ernie, and along side him is the sexy lead of my favorite online comic, LANDIS...if you look in the top left corner, there's a head sketch of Ardy on there as well.

Ernie says he's going to frame it at some point, and that he'll send us new pics when he does!

Doesn't this make EVERYONE want to sign up to win the prize next time? I even paid for Shipping =).