(scroll down for art news that actually matters)

So, haven't posted in a while. In all honesty, that's just me being me. But you know what else? I've been in Ocean City, New Jersey, for a week or so, and even if I had time, I didn't have internet access. If anyone was wondering, though, it was great. It's this small tourist town on the shore with a boardwalk and stuff my family goes to every single year. You know, it's really cool having the whole family together for stuff like this, what with me being in college, my older brother having just graduated college, and my eldest brother having moved out a year ago. Yeah, we all had a great time. The last day, in particular, all 4 of us brothers went down to the arcade. We played the Simpson's arcade game ([link]) together through to the end. It was pretty bizarre, though, because Homer's "attack" button wasn't working, so every time someone got a game over, they had to play as Homer until the next guy got a game over. Eventually, of course, we realized that there was no point in keeping Homer alive, he was just a waste of our precious, precious quarters. So then whoever got a game over just didn't play for a few minutes. Anyways, it was a total blast, great times for all.

Oh, also there was Mini Golf. Now, let me tell you something about that. As some of you may know, I've been on antidepressants since I was 13. Now I know a lot of people () believe that America has become obsessed with its drugs, and the idea that we would chemically alter our own minds for any stupid little thing any real person worth a damn would solve with force of character is nothing short of horrifying. You're right. But believe me, if you knew me back then, you'd agree, I NEEDED THE DRUGS. I was the most obnoxious horrible little brat like you wouldn't believe. I was like an angsty teenager at his worst except I was 11. It wasn't that I refused to ease up on the angst, it was that I was medically unable to feel any kind of lasting happiness. It is very very likely that had I continued that path, it would eventually have ended in suicide. So, to make a long story short (Cast of Clue: "Too late."): drugs. I'm better now. In fact, beginning this summer, I decided to wean myself off the meds and try to earn my own happiness the old-fashioned way. I've been seeing a therapist for years, so we discuss this stuff and he'll be able to help me through the transition, and I can always go back if I start feeling like suicidal or something again, but I think I'm strong enough now that I can work through this myself. , you can rejoice now (but make no mistake, you were not a factor in this decision, I still maintain that I needed the meds THEN, I just may not NOW) So, what does all this have to do with Mini Golf? Well, back in the day, for some reason, Mini Golf brought out the worst in me. I enjoy Mini Golf, I really do, I find it fun, and I'm not terrible at it, but for no reason whatsoever, 9 holes in I'd just start to snap, every time. It was like a curse. As I got older and more mature, thankfully, this happened less, but I was afraid now that I've been off the meds for a month or two it might start up again. However, my three brothers and I (and my brother Kev's girlfriend) went to "Dragons and Wizards" golf on the boardwalk, and I was absolutely fine. It was a sort of test for me, a victory at once literal and deeply symbolic. So, yeah, I think I'm gonna be fine after all.

Now as for art.

Of the very very few people who responded to my previous journal, most seem intrigued by the idea of a live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie. So I will be doing a series of posters of that soon. I have been unable to do so so far for two reasons. A. I realized I had no idea what such a movie would actually be about. FMA has a lot of characters, and a lot of plot twists, I have no idea how it would all be crammed into 2 hours or so. I considered a trilogy, but decided it would be better as one at first, as though we were uncertain whether the studio would pick up the sequels. Anyway, I have ideas now, though if anyone has any of their own, feel free to post them in a comment, I'm sure they'll help (just bear in mind I'm basing it on manga continuity, not anime) oh, and B. I've been really busy. My best friend's birthday is coming up, and helping out with that has taken up a lot of my time, and I also work part-time.

I will also, for whoever's interested, be putting up my sort-of fantasy comic "Terragoth" after all. I have been working on that when I could, but only in pencils, no color to speak of just yet. It will be very slow going, I imagine, but I won't wait until it's finished to star uploading, which could take, like, years? When I start a page should go up every week or two, we'll see.

The FMA posters and Terragoth will be coming to a Deviantart account near you (namely, this one) relatively soon, I'd say in a month or two when I settle back in at school, at the latest.

And If anyone can tell me how to just not set my "mood" that'd be super great. Seriously, WTF is up with that crazy-ass llama?