Coin Op-The Comic

----FREEDOM!!!!---

For about a month now I've started a new job, while I'm unsure if this company wants their name mentioned in a webcomic (or a blog for that matter). But I still have a laugh when I think about the fact that changing careers and starting over in a new field pays better than 8 years experience in the amusement industry.

During that time I have managed, ran, repaired, ordered, and operated 3 separate arcades/amusement parks. There is literally nothing that anyone can come up with that can shake or phase me in that industry. But unfortunately I had to end that career at a job that gave me 20 hrs/week at $7.50 hr with a highly illegal 13 hour shift on Saturday (with NO breaks I might add), no benefits of importance (medical/dental). I went to my employer there and told him I was offered a job that was able to pay me twice as much money (easy to do when I can get twice the hours), and all he could say is "we'll miss you". Not, "Can we work something out?", "Will a small increase keep you here?".

Based on the 8 years I've had, I can tell you it's only a matter of time for this place to close down...sooner than later. Because of the mis-management, and very questionable decisions, and the rumors that the owner's son was using the profits to pay off his credit cards doesn't give anyone a feeling of confidence there.

This will probably destroy any chance of me getting some extra cash on my days off there. But I really don't care anymore. Getting things to happen in that place was an act of God. I have a better chance of sleeping with an attractive co-worker than getting something to happen in that hole.

It's been over 2 months and I want to apologize to those who actually read this and enjoy it (somewhat).

We need to give a little attention to a friend of mine. The character Dawson is based on a real person named Dawson who frequents the ColoringDragons forums, and this is probably one of the best type of friends you can have. He puts up with a lot of BS and will stick beside you when you need him...and he gives you the advice you know you need but you may not want to hear. For those who ever meet him, and you read the comic first; don't let the comic mislead you. For the first couple of months, he helped me out big time with some jokes, some storylines I tried out. And one day, if we can get him a computer, he will start with the writing again. He has some stuff he wants to share with the world and now it's time for me to try to help him out.

Thanks Dawson.

Alright, I'll be quick as I have to be somewhere.

Last night I was supposed to stay at work and make sure a cleaning crew did a good job on the carpets they were cleaning. They decide to show up about 1 hour and 45 minutes late. They require 15 minutes to set up, so a job that was supposed to start at 7 PM starts at 9PM, and they estimated it would take 2 hours.

It took 3 hours and 15 minutes, so I left work at 12:15 AM. Got home and tried to pencil out CO 101 and my page of Ernies Empire. I passed out and woke up at 10 AM. Got Ernie done (since that was supposed to be up on Thursday) and CO is pencilled, so ink and color/letter is all that's left. But I have to leave to meet someone.

Please don't expect one on Wednesday either as I have jury duty. I'll done one if I'm excused or otherwise unwanted....but I'm not sure that's going to happen.

Hey everone, sorry for the lack of blog updates but there is something I do feel I want to unload here.

Most everyone will tell you that you need to surround yourself with positive supportive people. People that believe in what you are doing and want to help you acheive that goal. In turn, you need to be able to help them as well with the goals they set, since it's only fair.

Now a good case in point are my friends at Coloring Dragons.com, these guys started roughly about the same time I was having problems with that "other site". Now these guys saw something in my material that made them think this was good enough to offer me webspace to post CO:TC and give me access to where I can update this when I need to. In turn, I'm doing what I can to keep their forums interesting (still don't know how successful I am at that) and do what I can to get more traffic over to their site.

From them we met people like Mack Misa (who has Halfling Warriors :POUF) and my friend joined in and wrote a spin off of a CO charater that he's based on (Mattman!). Talented people like Lirael, and Ryan Vogler are showing up and essentially we're trying to make a place where people can be themselves. Kinda like some other big name sites that lost track of what they are supposed to be.

Now....something that I noticed that kinda disturbs me a bit. Is where my family stands on this idea of me drawing (and trying to make a living off of it). I know that my family loves me and wants me to do well in life. But they don't support what I'm doing, to them this is essentially just something to fill free time. The best I got one day was "well, keep trying, you might be able to make some pocket change off of it." And that was the last time I tried sharing with my family about what I'm doing and where I want to take this.

On that note, I just want to ask you guys for a few things.....
1) Find friends who believe in you and don't let them go.
2) Don't let those who don't believe in you affect you in any way.
3) If you like things like this, email those reponsible so they know they should keep going. It doesn't matter what strip or comic or cartoon you read. Most of these guys do it for fun, and most of these guys do this for free. A little gratitude wouldn't kill you.

Enough rambling...
I'm out of here
Dan -soon to be loved by....I can't even type out that lie- Eller.

Heads up loyal blog readers from this little known strip. The following has a few depressing things and a few things where you would wish I would just quit my #@$^&$! If you don't like either one of these things, you might want to walk away right now.

I really don't know if it's considered an international holiday (as I'm finding out I have some readers from Canada and Australia, thanks for reading btw guys), but for those who don't know, Monday is Valentine's Day here in the states and for a lot of us...it really sucks to have a holiday that reminds us that it sucks to be alone.

Now I've tried a few things to try to get back into the dating scene...let's just say there have been a few presidents in the oval office since my last date. I've gone to bars, clubs, parties, and yes, God help me....I've resorted to internet dating. Apparently I'm not what some women would consider interesting or likeable even. So you can take that little bit of self esteem I had and step on it, cause it's pretty much gone now. I've tried the self help books, and I've had friends introduce me to friends...nothing really tells you what your family thinks when they try to hook you up with someone who has mental issues (really wish I was kidding here folks).

A long time ago I wrote off any chance of finding happiness with any person on this planet. I believe it was just after college when I realized this fact. I still kinda hold out that someone is going to just appear one day and she won't run away when I talk to her. But that's probably a long way off. I'm just sitting back and laughing at those who complain about an unfaithful lover, fiancee, or husband....and I'm just looking to talk to someone for one evening. Pretty messed up isn't it?

Oh well, I've complained enough. If you read through this, sorry. Just needing to vent some more, this seemed the best place to go.

hatemail and notices to shut up can still be emailed to houseofroo@msn.com
And until I realize true love really was something created by the greeting card industry...I remain
Dan E.
single male, 30, and still
lowering his standards every
day.

Not much to report today, getting my truck back from the guys who towed it last Monday. Now instead of owing a lot of money to a finance company, I owe a lot of money to my sister. Don't get me wrong or nothing, I'm grateful but now I feel I am her servant until I come up with the rest of the $1,000 I owe her. I can make $400 appear from my state tax return and from donations from a few of you great wonderful people.

So, as of now, I'm looking for any side jobs, any extra income at all. If any of you guys know of anything, please email me at houseofroo@msn.com. Now, I'm going to go eat some really cheap and affordable ramen.

The series of events that follow can be summed up in one sentence, "I'm really stupid about decisions regarding money." You officially don't have to read anymore, the rest of this will back that one sentence up. You can leave and know the whole purpose of this rant and not have to bore yourself with details.

I got behind in bills and thought I could get a title loan and pay the money back quickly enough. Apparently I am an idiot cause I had my truck towed Monday night. I owe $1,200.00 on a loan now and I have about 12 days to get this money. The plan was simple....get my W2 from my job, get my taxes filed (with H&R Block), and my sister would help me on the rest of the money. If all was right in the world, I could have had 90% of this done today.

Of course it's never that simple.

My employer has the W2 forms in the building where I work (which I didn't have access to), and my boss was not there when I went in today. I would have gone in, but a small problem with my set of keys to the building were left in the truck that got towed Monday night. Okay, find truck and see if they can get me those keys.

After 3 stops I get someone who said they do have my truck...well at least they WILL have my truck that afternoon. It hasn't arrived at its destination, so I have no keys, no W2, no truck still, and trying everything in my power to get the money to pay them. Of course, since I'm using my sister's car, I'm essentially her little slave from the time she gets off work until she says she's done for the day. So all that I have done so far, is nothing. And I get to try this again in the morning. There will be more to this as I'm assuming I will get money back on my taxes as well as loans from friends who have offered to help me.

(crossing fingers) it looks like it is going to get better...but I'm praying that it doesn't get worse.
Either way...there will be more later as it happens...
Dan