December 9th, 2023 Six years ago today, I pulled off my biggest act of rebellion. Despite being an unfortunate people-pleaser who needs everyone to like him (and has succeeded maybe 30% of the time), I have always been rebellious by nature. I was born obstinate and stubborn (a Taurus!) and, sure, I can still beContinue reading “VI”
Tag Archives: Growth
Detach w/ Love
November 21st, 2023 It’s hard to keep loving someone who continually disappoints you and perpetually hurts you, no matter how deeply you love them. I wasn’t sure when to write this essay, but the holidays are here, and it’s that time of year so many of us are most disappointed and hurt. Early on inContinue reading “Detach w/ Love”
Novelty Treats
November 14th, 2023 “Are you bored?” a co-worker asked me the other day during a brief moment of inaction. “Oh, I’m never bored,” I said, as I often say. I explained that my head is always playing thoughts that excite me: developing stories and evolving characters and creating brand new worlds. But this is onlyContinue reading “Novelty Treats”
3
October 16th, 2023 Three years ago today, my mom decided to go on a forever trip. Due to her terribly dark sense of humor, she didn’t send a text to let me know, or even say good bye. The good news, though, is that after going through these thousand days or so, I don’t evenContinue reading “3”
Oil Change
September 27th, 2023 “I may have been sober, but I didn’t start to get well until I could accept who I had been, who I was becoming and accept any distance there was between the two.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber I got my oil changed yesterday morning. They put a little sticker in the upper-left cornerContinue reading “Oil Change”
The Weirdos, Part VII: The Universe is Bigger Than God
August 30th, 2023 I didn’t finish college (obvs) and I don’t believe in God (sorry, fam), and The Weirdos is what it is because of it. I quit college three quarters in. I frequently tell people that making this graphic novel was my education; most art students have to do a final project, and it’sContinue reading “The Weirdos, Part VII: The Universe is Bigger Than God”
The Weirdos, Part V: The Wait
August 28th, 2023 Das wasn’t supposed to be a Weirdo. The Wait actually started out as a comic book about the restaurant industry, after years of people telling me that I should write about the experience, which explains its title and setting. It was a separate thing altogether, until I realized that I had writtenContinue reading “The Weirdos, Part V: The Wait”
Writing With Dennis Vogen!
August 22nd, 2023 I’m finally doing it! Class is in session and I’m the teacher! On Wednesday, November 1st, from 7 pm to 9 pm, I will be at Labyrinth Puzzle Rooms in Downtown Lakeville to discuss: – Writing short stories, novellas & novels– Publishing your work– National Novel Writing Month And any questions youContinue reading “Writing With Dennis Vogen!”
FIGHT!
August 21st, 2023 I look like an idiot. I haven’t been on my usual bullshit lately, writing about my messy emotions or mental health, or about politics or the climate or philosophy or grief or sobriety. It’s not that I don’t think about these things anymore; they’re all I think about, the things that keepContinue reading “FIGHT!”
The Weirdos, Part I: The Flying Squirrel
August 7th, 2023 It’s no secret that Ashley Maypole, the main character of my comic The Flying Squirrel, is the Weirdo most like me. He’s an alcoholic comic book writer with Imposter Syndrome and an unhealthy obsession with squirrels. He has a son and a Boston Terrier and a best friend who looks a lotContinue reading “The Weirdos, Part I: The Flying Squirrel”
The Den 