Vote for me!

It just dawned on me that my cartoon "Cafe con Leche" is in the middle of yet another comics poll, this time in the St. Petersburg Times, also know as my former employer. Ironic how, now that I'm outta there, my comic strip suddenly appears in their paper. Again, cue Alanis Morrisette.
Anyways, I'm up against some stiff competition with the likes of "Tundra," "Mister Boffo" and "Rhymes with Orange." If ya wanna vote, just email Mike Wilson, features editor of the Times at features@sptimes.com and put "Comics" in the subject line.

Interview with "Mr. Media"

For those of you who are interested I'm scheduled to have a live podcast on June 10th at 1:00 p.m. with "Mr. Media" Bob Andelman. Don't know what kind of questions he'll ask, but this should be fun. I was informed recently that several high-profiled cartoonists have grace the airwaves of the show. Feel free to call in and ask a few questions.

Here's the link to Bob's blog:
http://www.mrmedia.com/

New York City bound

Due to the fact that I recently lost my day job (aka "got fired") and the need to freelance more I've decided to pack up my things and move to NYC in mid-June. It wasn't that tough of a decision. I have some really good friends up there and I've had great success both freelancing and coming up with fodder for my strips in the city. I took a month-long sabbatical last year and realized that New York was probably the place that I was meant to be. Trying to get out of Tampa Bay before the hurricane season gets into full swing. I figured that if I really wanted to start over I just needed to get out of Tampa Bay. Now I just need to find some art space to draw my cartoons.

Saluting Jones High

You may have noticed that I've made a few changes in my comic strip "Cafe con Leche." I've been trying to make it more personal and sometimes I'll sneak in familiar names and places. For the week of June 30th, I've decided to salute Jones High School in Orlando, Fla. I didn't attend Jones, but it was the closest high school to my neighborhood. Back in the '80s it was known for random stootings and was surrounded by some pretty bad neighborhoods.
I wanted to shed a little positive light on Jones by making it the setting for a high school reunion for my lead character "Trey." I had always wondered why my parents didn't let us go to Jones, best know for being the alma mater of actor (and now convicted felon) Wesley Snipes. We all got bussed miles away to the "safer" Oak Ridge HS, which wasn't really that safe. Would have loved to have been a member of the Jones High marching Tiger band, but I had to settle for being a ORHS Pioneer. Memories.
In any event, here's to you JHS.

Movin' on

It's been a while since I sent my blog entry so its time to update on a few things. First I must say that I'm officially a full-time freelance cartoonist. I lost my job as a graphic artist at the St. Pete Times a few weeks ago. I had to take a step back from things to deal with the shock of being newly unemployed, which kinda sucks.
The good news is that I've been able to catch up on a few cartoons. The bad news is that I'm now totally reliant on my syndication and freelance money 'till I can find a full-time job, which won't be easy in this sagging economy. The irony of this whole thing is that I draw a cartoon about the workplace. Even more ironic is that the Times is finally running my cartoon Cafe con Leche two weeks after I was let go. Cue Alanis Morrisette song....
Well, since I still have student loans to pay off I have to find a full-time gig. The prospects here in Tampa Bay aren't good, so I guess I'll have to head up to New York and find something up there. Freelancing is easier in a place where there is an abundance of media outlets.
Well, thats it for now.

Things is tough

(Pardon the bad english).

Lately I've been feeling the crunch of this bad economy and job market. The ironic thing is that I draw a cartoon about the ins and outs of corporate life. I don't know how many co-workers have come up to me to express their uneasyness the the jobs forecasts lately. As I listen to them I'm silently concerned about my own future in these tough times. Kinda depressing, don't ya think?
Sure, I selfishly use some of this economic distress as material for my comic strip, but sometimes reality just not that funny.
People are running scared with no end in sight.

You know, a great poet once said, and I quote ..."Its like a jungle, sometimes it makes me wonder if I keep from going under."

That's a little inside joke for the people who know me best.