Any Web Developers looking for work? AEG is looking to hire a new Web Developer.

It's a great company, great benefits, lots of opportunities for free sports/entertainment event tickets and best of all... you'd be sitting right next to me!

AEG Worldwide owns and operates various sports and entertainment interests, including: The Staples Center, the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Galaxy, Coachella, LA Live, Nokia Theater, O2 London, Home Depot Center, Los Angeles Sol and tons more. For more info about AEG: www.aegworldwide.com

I don't think this position is on the website yet, so if you're interested let me know and I'll pass your info along.

I've been working a lot lately.

My schedule has been:
wake up early
sit with the weirdos on the bus/train,
work all day,
train/bus weirdos
work
a little bit of sleep

Well, after finally launching the new LosAngelesSol.com, things have started to slow down. Now I'm mostly catching up on my other websites and fixing all the little things that I didn't have time for on the Sol site before launch.

Thursday, I was working on some stuff on the couch at home and Ava said, "Dada has a lot of work to do... Dada, always has a lot of work to do."

It made me sad.

So, on saturday, I just spent the day with her. I took her to her gym class. Afterward she and I went and had lunch together and then stopped off at the park. We hung out at the playground, watched some kind of youth dance competition going on (mexican dancing, breakdancers, Indian dancers, hip-hop) and then stopped to watch a baseball game that was going on in a small "minor-league" type baseball field.

One of the teams was the Long Beach Police Department. I didn't catch who the other team was. We stood on a hill and watched the game together.

Ava: Baseball.

Me: yep.

Ava: Base. Ball. Do the balls look like bases?

Me: No. You see, the man with the with big stick, has to hit the ball and then try to run around the bases on the ground.

Ava: Oh.

...

Ava: A bass is an instrument.

Me: You're right. You're a smart kid.

Later we bought some ice cream at the grocery store and ate it on the couch while we watched Pinocchio.

It was a pretty decent day.

So... just spreading the word that we are having a huge 1-day sale on game tickets for "Tax Day".

Any seat in the house (includes the VIP Club Seats, I believe) only $4.15 on 4/15/2009 from 10am-Midnight (PT). These are for the Los Angeles Sol (Women's Pro Soccer team, owned by my employers AEG... same owners as the L.A. Galaxy and L.A. Kings).

Choose any or all of the games on:
Sunday, April 19th
Sunday, May 10th
Wednesday, June 3rd

Here's the info:LA Sol $4.15 Tax Day Sale

Don't know how we're making money, but that's not my job. I just make things look neat.

I'll actually be buying these tickets too, since it makes no sense for me to use my vouchers on a $4 ticket. I can save em for something else. Come up and watch a game. They kick ass. LA's actually got itself a championship soccer team... yeah, I said it.

---

UPDATE: SLG Comics sale 30% Off
Ooh, and look at this. SLG Publishing, the folks behind "The Ghouly Boys" comics and "Haunted Mansion" are having a Tax Day sale as well.

Everything in the store is 30% until Friday April 17th. You will need to enter the following coupon code: taxtime09

www.slgcomic.com

That's 30% off everything, including stuff already on clearance!

Sometimes it can be hard to be a soccer fan in America.

Not only because of the general disinterest from others, but the outright hostility. A casual soccer conversation can be met with the general sports fan replying "I will never watch a soccer game.", "Most boring sport ever."

But the one that always gets me is, "It will never be as big as the NFL, NBA or baseball here in the U.S.!!"

Okay. Fine.

Soccer fans in America don't want the sport to take over yours. Simmer down. We don't care if it's "bigger", we'd just like it to be up there. We're not trying to take away what you love, we just want to share what we love.

And today, is a special day for soccer. A special day for the sport I love.

Today, the new women's soccer league begins (WPS). Now, we all know that the women's game will never be a mainstream thing... but they'd be satifisfied with carving a niche. And it means something to have a women's pro league here. It means that a young girl can have a sports hero that isn't a man. She can hang a poster on her wall and dream, "I can be like her". This league means that a woman can make a living in the sport. This league means that we are a country that really IS the land of opportunity.

It means that I can tell my little girl that she can grow up to do and be anything she wants. And mean it.

This is a special moment, and I am proud to be a part of it. The company I work for, AEG, has many sports and entertainment interests, yet I was chosen to take on the Women's Pro Soccer project, the Los Angeles Sol. And even if they hadn't asked, I would have begged for the shot. And I feel that it has brought out some of the best design work of my career.

I was there in '99 when the U.S. Women's team won the Women's World Cup. There were over 90,000 people in the stands that day. The President and his family (the Clintons) showed up to watch the game and meet the team.

That game is widely regarded as one of the great sports moments in history.

And today, is another special moment. Here it begins again. A new dream. A new promise.

Plus, it's gonna be one helluva match. The Los Angeles Sol signed Marta a Brazilian superstar who the media often refers to as "Pele in a skirt". We face the greatest player in the U.S. today, Abby Wambach "The Next Mia Hamm".

If you're not gonna a come to the game (tickets are pretty cheap, just for the record) then please take a moment to tune in if you can. It will air live today at 3:00pm (pacific time) on Fox Soccer Channel (FSC). There's even an hour of pregame programming.

This will be something. And I'm looking forward to sharing it with my wife, my mom, my friends and most of all my little girl. Because this is also a moment for her.

Game on.

WPS Inaugural Game
Los Angeles Sol vs. Washington Freedom
3:00pm @ The Home Depot Center
Carson, CA
live on FSC
www.LosAngelesSol.com

Ava made me put on her orange "Chuck E. Cheese" star-shaped glasses.

Then she said, "Let me see your face. Oooooh, you look cool, dada! Like zombie Elvis!"

Okay, she wants to type her name:

ava

I just found out today that a screenwriter has now been hired to adapt my comic book "The Ghouly Boys" into a motion picture. The comic was optioned a few years ago, and recently renewed. But this is the first time a screenplay has officially been commissioned. I'm looking forward to reading it and seeing what he does with it. Here's the article from The Hollywood Reporter.



--------------
Mandate gets scribe for 'Ghouly' pic
Sam Esmail will adapt children's comic
By Jay A. Fernandez (The Hollywood Reporter)
Feb 12, 2009, 12:00 AM ET

Freshman screenwriter Sam Esmail has been hired to adapt children's comic "The Ghouly Boys" for Mandate Pictures. Lindsay Doran ("Nanny McPhee") is producing through her Three Strange Angels shingle.

J.C. Spink, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Benderspink and Mandate president Nathan Kahane will serve as executive producers. Mary Lee will oversee the project for Mandate.

In 2006, Mandate picked up film rights to the spooky and comical graphic-novel series about a quartet of young monster outcasts and their efforts to fit in. Written and drawn by the single-named artist Christopher (Higginson), "Ghouly" was published in 2004 by Slave Labor Graphics.

Esmail's script will follow two friends -- a young boy looking to contact his dead father and a young zombie seeking a way to come back to life -- who set off on an adventure.

Mandate most recently produced "Passengers" and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." The company has Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, "Whip It!" in production, as well as the thriller "Peacock."

Benderspink is exec producing the Warner Bros. comedy "The Hangover," set for a June release, and is developing the Spyglass Entertainment romantic comedy "Leap Year," which has Golden Globe- and WGA Award-winning scribe Simon Beaufoy working on the screenplay.

Doran's Three Strange Angels has a first-look deal with Mandate, with whom she made "Stranger Than Fiction" in 2006. She is producing the sequel "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang" for Working Title.

Esmail, repped by WMA and Energy Entertainment, had his original screenplay "Sequels, Remakes & Adaptations" land on the 2008 unofficial Black List of "most liked" screenplays

You ever notice that when you pick up a cup and the coaster is stuck to it... the coaster never seems to fall until you've stopped and noticed it stuck there?

It's kind of like a cartoon character running in the air and not falling till they realize they've gone of a cliff or something.

Well, my vacation is almost over. Foo.

They gave us 10 days off from work. In my head I imagined that ten whole days of not working would be full of all sorts of time to get art and freelance design projects done that have been VERY, VERY neglected.

Yeah, not so much.

Got a little bit of work done. Still had some stuff do to for the day job that came in from time to time, and I allowed myself to play some Xbox in the mornings. After that the Xbox was often used to play "Wiggles" movies on Netflix for Ava. Man, the Xbox Live/Netflix feature is seriously awesome. Only drawback is the limited movie selection available for streaming.

Otherwise, the vacation was actually pretty full. I got to spend time with family which was nice. I had intended to use the Wii Fit every morning, since I wasn't going to be walking as much as I do during my commute. But, as Melissa put it, instead of playing "Wii Fit" I just played "Wii Sit".

Ava and I saw a sign with a guy surfing. Ava asked:

AVA: Dada, what's that man doing?

ME: He's on a surfboard. He's surfing.

AVA: What?

ME: He's surfing.

AVA: What's that?

ME: Um... you know, like in your penguin movie, "Surf's Up".

AVA: What?!?!

ME: Surf's Up? The movie... with the penguins?

AVA: What penguin movie?

ME: ugh. You know, the one with the little penguin and he's on the beach... and he's surfing and there's the big penguin, "Big Z".

AVA: What?

ME: (getting frustrated) Surf's up.

AVA: You hurt yer what?

ME: (hysterical laughter)

I haven't been on here in a while, save for a few random visits for a half a second or two. What did I miss? What's up with you these days?

Ava and I are watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" right now. She's very, very into it.

I pretty much just work and commute these days. Very busy at work, but pretty exciting stuff. I took my mom to the company party last week because Melissa and Ava were at Disneyworld. They were gone for 10 days! It was weird being a bachelor for a week and a half. The house felt so empty.

The metro rail is interesting. One day I was standing on the train next to a homeless man. He was very stinky. As the doors opened at one of our stops, a protest was going on outside. There was a large group of people shouting and carrying signs. The signs were in spanish. There was a man with a bull horn who was shouting something in spanish.

The homeless man stared out the doors and said, "He's right."

I had a puzzled look on my face.

The homeless man looked at me and continued, "I don't know what he's saying. You may know what he's saying. I don't know what he's saying... but I ain't gonna tell him he's wrong."

Then the door closed and we continued our journey.

I really didn't want to write about politics here. I felt that I just didn't want to sermonize to people. But it seems my website has been vandalized without me knowing about it. And Google is the culprit. So, I just want to set the record straight.

Prior to getting this new job, times were really tough for us. I tried to do all I could to earn a few extra bucks here and there. Some nights, the only way we were able to afford to eat dinner would be by taking cans down to the recycling center. So, one method of trying to get a little extra cash was to place some "Google Ads" banners on my website. The way they are supposed to work, is that a Google spider reads the content of your website and creates custom ads based on what your site is about. I figured, "Hey cool... comic book and art banners. No big deal".

Well... tonight, I just looked at my website. Something I rarely do, only to find it plastered with "Yes on 8" banners. Apparently some organization paid Google to put their banners in heavy rotation, no matter what the content was on the site.

Tomorrow morning, I'm getting in line to vote at 6:30 am. As a Californian, I'm voting NO on Proposition 8.

We are all promised the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". We pat ourselves on the back for being the "greatest country in the world" for the freedoms that our citizens are entitled to. Proposition 8 is discriminatory and denies certain citizens of their inalienable rights.

No matter what your personal feelings are about same-sex couples. It's not your right to deny them their civil liberties. You have the right to your opinion. Live your life how you want to. And allow others to do the same.

I apologize if anyone stopped by my website and saw those banners. I had no idea they were there. I've removed my "Google ads", am terminating my relationship with them and writing a letter to make sure they know it.

(more about the google ads at the LA Times)

Today we launched the team name and logo for our new Women's Professional Soccer team.


Here's the website. This is one of my main projects at work. http://www.womensprosoccer.com/la

This is a very cool contest that my work is running. I wish I could enter, but since I'm an employee, my family and I aren't allowed to. But maybe one of you could win. Here's the info...



Enter to win the Ultimate L.A. LIVE Experience, two tickets to one of our venues (STAPLES Center, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club NOKIA, GRAMMY Museum, and Conga Room) every month and dinner for two at one of our establishments (Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge, ESPN Zone, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, Rosa Mexicano, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Rock'N Fish, Yard House, Katsuya, Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, or Trader Vic's) - for one full year!

www.lalive.com/win

(and if you do win, just remember who told you about the contest, in case you're ever looking for someone to join you at an event or something. I'm just sayin'.)

Well, I've started my new job.

I'm halfway through my second week and I couldn't be happier. I'm working on lots of cool stuff and my co-workers are all super cool. I've already used my employee discount to purchase some Lakers (for my mom) and Galaxy (for me) merchandise. We've even been asked to submit some name ideas for an upcoming sports team and then to try and come up with a logo. I tried my best to hide the gigantic grin on my face during the staff meeting.

I've been using the public transportation system to get to and from work, and have encountered lots of interesting characters. I just keep to myself, which has given me the opportunity to catch up on some reading. They've also given me a Blackberry, so today I just spent my commute trying to figure the thing out.

Meanwhile, we're moving into our new place on friday. Poor Melissa has been tasked with being in charge of packing up all our stuff back in San Diego while I'm up here working.

Oh yeah, "THE GHOULY BOYS" movie option has been extended as well!

It's been a tough year for us, but it feels like things are finally starting to turn around.

Sat in on the Halo panel and got to see the opening sequence for "Halo Wars".

Also got introduced to super amazing artist Simon Bisley. He gave me a kiss on the cheek...?

So... Comic-Con is going on right now. We already hit up the madness that was Preview night. Now I'm just trying to get some work done. Ava is singing along to "Chicken Little".

I wasn't planning on doing any signings this year. I haven't had any new comic work come out and we were just planing on enjoying the show and attending some panels. BUT it looks like I'll be joining in on the Cartoon Art Museums' Sketch-A-Thon on Sunday. I'll be doing free sketches for people at their booth, hoping to drum up some donations for the museum. Here's the skinny:

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON
Cartoon Art Museum booth
on the Mezzanine Level
2-3pm on Sunday

In other news... I have a new full time job.

I just got hired to work at a very cool company. A place I've actually been wanting to work at for a long time. I'll be working on their websites as a member of their creative department. I'm very excited about it because it's finally a chance to have a steady income with health benefits and all that and it seems like a really cool place to work. Woo-hoo! No more freaking out every month hoping I can earn enough money to feed my family on my freelance work and pulling my hair out while waiting for clients to pay. More info on the new job later.

Oh, also the Marvel Masterpieces trading cards are out now. It's cool finding people on ebay who have found my sketch cards. One sold for $126. Not that I get to see any of that money, but it's cool to see that my little trading card sketches are valuable to someone in the world. (My dad joked that it was Melissa who bought it just to boost my ego. Ha!)

Okay. Work to do.

I just found out that comic book creator Michael Turner passed away last night. There is more info about it here: www.newsarama.com/comics/080628-Turner.html

I didn't really know him. I think I've only ever met him in passing at comic book conventions, but he was a good friend to my pal Marc. Through second hand accounts, I've followed Michael's career since before he was ever published.

Many years ago, my friend Marc had started taking kung-fu lessons at a martial arts studio in San Diego. One of the instructors was Michael Turner. The two quckly became friends, bonding over their interest in comics. I remember Marc telling me one day about his instructor, "Mr. Turner" he called him, (as students were supposed to refer to instructors) and how he'd brought some comic book samples in. He asked Marc's opinion as a fellow artist, and since Marc was already a published creator. Marc said the art samples were amazing. Michael said he was thinking of showing his art to TOP COW, and Marc told him that they would totally love his work.

Soon afterward, Michael Turner was picked up by TOP COW and almost overnight he became a comic book sensation. He was a fan favorite, regularly listed in Wizard's Top Ten artists. Eventually, Michael went on to form his own comics imprint, ASPEN, and what I recall most about the ASPEN booth is the horde of fans waiting for his autograph. That, and of course Michael's dynamic art looming larger than life over the convention halls.

Yet no matter how big a superstar he became. With his lines of fans, his booming comic book company and his major projects... he always had a moment for my friend Marc and his family. Eventually, the two would share another bond. Both struggling with their own battles against cancer. Despite their health issues, they continued to inspire each other. Marc, inspiring Michael as his health deteriorated yet struggled to persevere... and Michael inspiring Marc with his continued success despite the setbacks the disease forced him to endure.

When Marc was in the hospice, during his final days, we knew that Michael would want to know what was going on. Neither Marc's family or I had any contact info so we asked our friend Jeromy, a former IMAGE colorist if he know of a way to get in touch. Jeromy didn't have any contact info but said he'd see what he could do. Minutes later, we got a call back. I don't know how Jeromy did it. He just did his Jeromy magic, for which we are forever grateful. Marc's family was put in touch with Michael. He was very glad that we sought to get in touch with him and tell him about Marc. He expressed his condolences to the family and as I recall, it was very difficult for him to talk about it. He was utterly devestated.

Now, hearing that Michael has passed away, well... it's just so sad. I never really knew Michael Turner. But I've always had a very deep respect for him. For his continued friendship with Marc and the Brueland family and for his fantastic talents. I'll miss seeing him around at the conventions. He was truly one of the good guys and deserved every ounce of his success.

A picture of Ava from our trip up to visit family in Northern California over the Memorial Day weekend.

--------------
Had to join on that "meme-thing" that I've been seeing around...

You are in a mall when the zombies attack. You have:
1. one weapon.
2. one song blasting on the speakers.
3. one famous person to fight alongside you

My Answers:
1. A machete

2. "Riot in thunder alley" - by Eddie Beram

3. Evel Knievel in his prime. Ooh, or Jim Kelly ("Black Belt Jones")!

------
Otherwise, lots of lame stuff going on. Maybe I'll share later.

The San Diego Union-Tribune recently featured an article in their "Night and Day" section about my friend Marc who passed away in 2003 and his connection to the band Nightwish. This weekend Nightwish is making their first appearance in San Diego. We would have gone, but are out of town visiting family. I haven't seen the print version, but I sent in some photos that may be featured.

Here it is:
SD Union-Tribune article, "Kindred Spirits"

note: Marc's middle name is "Christian" not "Christopher".

Artwork by Gene Colan

Legendary comic book artist Gene Colan is suffering from liver failure. Most popular for his work in the 60's and 70's on such books as "Daredevil" and "Tomb of Dracula", his art style was unlike anyone working comics before or since. He is truly a master illustrator and one of the giants in the industry. I've been saving up my pennies in the hope of someday commissioning some artwork by him. I've been holding onto the dream of having an illustration of "The Ghouly Boys" by him in the trade paperback collection eventually. Just a few days ago I was staring at the art and posters hanging in my office, daydreaming about that Gene Colan piece I want up there on my wall.

But today, I was once again awoken from my daydreams by the sobering reality that the legends of yesterday, whose works may be immortal, are themselves advancing in age and declining in health. Gene Colan's wife has sent out the following letter...

---
Gentlemen:

My darling, sweet, handsome and brilliantly gifted husband's liver is failing. The complications are very nasty. This week it's fluid retention and encephalitis. He's on powerful meds now to diminish the symptoms. He sleeps a lot and has very little energy. He wants you all to know how badly he wanted to attend the convention. He so seriously wanted to see you all and shoot the breeze.

Not sure how long we have left together, but our family whole and we'll be taking this sad journey together and nearby.

Anyone with commissions outstanding, I'll have a sense within the next couple of weeks if he can fulfill them, if not, please don't worry, I'll return your monies promptly. I don't want to pull the rug out from under him. But if he can do anything, he'll need to finish the 10 pgs. remaining on his 38 pg. Captain America Civil War for Marvel.

You all know how you've enriched Gene's life by coming forward and being a part of his. :)

love,
Adrienne

---

If you happen to be a fan of his work and you have a moment to spare, get well notes and cards can be mailed to the address below:

Gene Colan
2 Sea Cliff Avenue
Sea Cliff, NY 11579
USA

Also, an auction is being set up to help with the medical costs. More info here.

-----
On another note. Regarding the comic book shop owner who was shot in an armed robbery, it is being reported that two suspectes have been apprehended by the police with a third suspect still being sought.