News:

I've been watching "Dirty Jobs." What a fantastic job Mike Rowe has. He gets to do a little bit of everything. Sure, most of it's nasty, but I read an article where he says that everything washes off... no matter how smelly or sticky or dirty. He must have a stomach of solid steel. I'd probably hurl at half of the stuff I've seen. But I'd do it anyway. All those real people out there doing real jobs that directly affect my life every day... even if I don't notice it. Just amazing.

I had an honest-to-god epiphany today.
The kind that forever alters your world view. Well.. mine anyway.

I was just sitting in my car. Stopped at a light. Headed to Golden State Activewear to pick up some Tshirts. I look out my window and see this woman standing on the curb. And I think to myself "That woman is thin and healthy... but she probably can't fight." Suddenly I feel this wave of resposibility wash over me. Holy crap. 98% of the population can't fight. And they don't even think about it. It's up to the 2% of us who can and do to protect them.

So that sounds like a blanket statement.
I don't think I have to go out and be a superhero.
I'm having trouble putting this into exact words.

It was that feeling that washed over me. That sudden sense of not being able to stand back and do nothing while someone suffers some kind of physical altercation. I suddenly felt responsible for all the little guys in the world. All the women standing on street corners or walking down alleys about to get mugged. All the guys in clubs getting pushed around or kids getting bullied in the schoolyard. Like... suddenly I could DO something about that. I have this new skill.. this ability to intimidate and dominate and even win if I were in a fight! I could actually defend someone!

It hit me pretty hard. I see people now. Like... they exist. You'd have to know my worldview to know what that means. But it's important.

Things are different now.

I never knew I could continue functioning on so little sleep. I've had about 5-6 hours of sleep a night for the past 4 days. Usually I become zombie-like and non-functional, but instead I find myself becoming deeply introspective regarding the fighting classes I've been taking. Why do I want to learn how to fight? What kind of impact is it having on my life, my outlook on others, my perspective on the world? How is it changing me? How much more change do I have to look forward to as I continue to hone my skills as a fighter? Can anyone else tell that I'm rambling at 3 am?

This is Joe Havasy. He's my new favorite comic artist! He has a lot of gory originals posted right now, but usually they just have the whimsical "crazy" going on like my art does. While I specialize in drawing people in weird situations, he specializes in critters in weird situations! I have three of his original paintings and am saving up to get a zombie stingray. This print of the "Wereweiner" cracks me up.

"The Traveler" is the the new shirt for August! They're selling like hotcakes so be sure to be the coolest kid on the block by getting yours first. My favorite item on Etsy - Spiderbite's "NightMare Snatchers" (quite possibly the most brilliant invention ever) - now makes little versions of them called "Worry-Woolies!" You can scribble down your anxieties throughout the day and have a wonderful little monster in your pocket munching on them all day long. I usually wait till I get home at night to unload before going to bed, but this makes for a much more stress-free day. Seriously, this girl rocks.

I went camping. I'm still not sure how people sleep in tents, but we got to go shooting and played in a local river so all in all a rousing good time! My eskrima classes are coming along well, and I desperately need to draw a stick depicting my teacher - who is a stick-wielding badass to the core. We got a new kitten (named Dax) who is insanely beautiful and Juror2 Custom orders are rolling in. The copyright for my new book hit a small bump, but all is back on track and *fingers crossed* all should be ready by winter of this year. "The Traveler" is going to be the new stick for August. I just can't resist those adorable skulls!

Petaluma was AWESOME. People were great, setup was simple... didn't sell any SteamPunk Garage items, but Juror2 was rocking the HOUSE! I went camping this week for two days. I'm.. not... really... a camping person. Yeah. It was fun. Dirty. Cold. Hot. There were bugs. But the food was slamming good and we got to shoot and paddle around in the local river. So all in all, I would say it's my first successful camping trip. :) "PusPop" is the new shirt this month. Enjoy the nasty.

I've never been to Petaluma before! I'm looking forward to the crafting adventure that awaits me there. :-D

My best friend is in the running to be a Scream Queen for a new horror movie! If you have a minute, throw her an extra vote for me, willya? (You can vote every day if you're bored!): http://www.gotcast.com/KimberlyMarvel

Don't forget to look over the new things added to the SteamPunk Garage this week: http://steampunkgarage.etsy.com

The past two days have been real scorchers! Tonight was so hot I couldn't even wrap my head around the idea of setting up so I canceled the Los Altos Farmer's Market at the last minute. I spent the morning doing some stick fighting down at the Academy of Self Defense in Santa Clara, loaded up my car and then thought "What am I DOING? No one's going to wander around slowly browsing the designs at my booth in this inferno!" So instead I stayed home and heat set a box of shirts. Whee! Always a party here at the Juror2 household. :)

In an effort to be more active on my beloved website, I'm going to start updating several times a week even if I don't have time to draw a new stick. The past two days were crazy busy! I hit up the Temescal Street Fair in Oakland and the Haight Ashbury Street Fair in San Francisco. Fun was had by all and now foot rubs are needed post haste. I have a few custom orders lined up that will keep me busy all week, but come visit me in Napa this weekend. It's pretty far outside my usual fair circuit so it would be nice to see a familiar face.