Black Friday is over and the “Holiday Season” sorta officially begins. But, Christmas keeps arriving in stores earlier every year. No shit. They had Christmas stuff out BEFORE this Halloween! Jesus! I would like to have just one holiday at a time, thank you.

The dumpster fire that we call 2016 is entering its final month and, honestly, I dunno where the time went. I tell everyone that time speeds up as you get older. That’s why old people wear clothes that are so out of style. To them, it was still fashionable only just yesterday. I’m still mourning the death of Lemmy Kilmister.

I may or may not post a vlog online for this month. I haven’t been up to very much of late. The apartment building where I live is public housing. HUD transferred authority of this place over to another department, RAD, I think. So, I have been a little nervous about evictions. I am ALWAYS nervous about evictions, but more so when anything changes. Change is seldom good, in my experiences. The management will be doing an annual inspection Monday. So, I have been doing a lot of cleaning.

I haven’t received very much mail in a long time. Except, the wrong mail. The post office has repeatedly given me someone else’s mail this month. I worry that my mail may have disappeared somewhere en route.

I have been reading a few new books over the past few weeks; “Manage Your Day-To-Day: Build your Routine, Find Your Focus & Sharpen Your Creative Mind” by Jocelyn K. Glei, “ME Inc. – Build an Army of One, Unleash Your Inner Rock God, Win in Life and Business” by Gene Simmons, “Gunny’s Rules – How To Get Squared Away Like A Marine” by R. Lee Ermey, and “Music Law: How To Run Your Band’s Business” by Rich Stim.

The first book, “Manage Your Day-To-Day”, has been very helpful to me. It gives tips from many professional creatives on how to prioritize your schedule, stay creatively sharp, and keep from going insane.

Gene Simmons and R. Lee Ermey are both interesting characters. They both have their moments. Each of them have written what simultaneously serve as autobiographies and self-help books. Their personal stories help to make the points of what they have learned in life. I don’t agree with them on everything. But, I still respect them for the useful advice that they offer here.

I am just beginning “Music Law.” So far, I haven’t found much inside that I didn’t already know. I was looking for cheaper alternatives to doing some things. But, maybe I will just have to get enough money together for them somehow, eventually.

I am (at least) seven grand in debt right now. Thankfully, my van is running okay. But, my computer has really been acting up recently. It may be dying soon. I have no insurance on my van (or myself, besides Medicare). Not something I am happy about.

This is partly why I have not produced anything substantial in awhile. Money always gets in the way of everything. I have been recording demos, finishing some painting & drawing, etc. I feel a little embarrassed when friends with fewer resources than me are able to get so much more accomplished in much shorter time. But, that is why I usually prefer working with collaborators. They keep me motivated and offer encouragement.

I am trying to set aside a few bucks each month for my artistic expenses. But, it disappears quickly when there is no food in the kitchen. I visited Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores a few weeks ago for some supplies. I had not been inside one for ages. But, I liked it. I used to go to Michael’s Arts & Crafts and Hobby Lobby (before Hobby Lobby’s Jesus freaks started fucking over their workers). I will no longer go to Hobby Lobby.

I have been updating old artwork from my previous releases, preparing to make Recycletapes available of all Mike Damn Nobody and other related recordings. My Bandcamp has been updated with new information and artwork. I am gonna begin making some T-Shirts again soon. Not really professionally, more like DIY stenciled. Since I can produce them on-demand instead of ordering a ton to be screened at once.

Theee Urban SpaceCat will get published when I can afford it, I guess. I will cut corners and try to get it out there sooner. But, I am really disappointed with how long it has been taking. It should have been done ages ago. At least I have had plenty of time to make changes to it.

Likewise, The Island of Misfit Noise (Movie) is going to take a lot of time to get anything done with it. I have been working on some rough drafts for the script and making a few notes about the production. I can probably begin shooting, sporadically, once I acquire a decent chroma key compositing (green screen) kit. The rest is pretty cheap. Mostly, it involves cardboard, papier-mâché, tinfoil, latex, and junk.

I have been gathering parts for a new ShitKit. They are in my storage unit, with the other stuff that won’t fit into my apartment. I have other parts to build some new noise machines with, too. After the apartment’s inspection, I will probably take everything over to my grandmother’s garage and use my grandpa’s tools to work on them. Who knows? Maybe I will arrange some live noise performances as Mike Damn Nobody again.