First off, let me give everyone a huge thank you! If it were not for you guys I would not be able to do this full time. My wife is especially thankful as she gets to stay home now and raise our boys (which in turn gives me more time to write and draw comics). Every reader is important and is much appreciated.

Also, a huge thanks goes out to our sponsors on the site (YEA, Key Poulan Music, and Daniel Montoya Jr. Music). I love the fact that my ads now make sense with the site. They provide a big part of our monthly income so please share the love by clicking on their links and taking a peek around. They all have some pretty cool stuff.

I know I don’t say it enough but I really do appreciate the fact that I can do what I love and many, many people like it, too. That is totally awesome and gives me more opportunity to create more and better content for you guys.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

SO, what is a typical day in the life like for me? I know some people have asked this so I thought I would share it with you all (I would like to preface that it really isn’t all that glamorous…just a word of warning):

6:15 am- Hit Snooze
6:35- get out of bed
6:40- get the boys out of bed and prepare our 8 year old for school.
7:30- pack and ship orders from the previous day (I ship all orders the day after they are ordered, except in rare occasions). This normally takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
9:00-1:00- I use this time to write and draw comics (usually 1 a day but sometimes I can get 2 or 3 done). Or, I use this time to create new merchandise (normally 1 day a week). Essentially, this is my working time to get stuff done with the comic, but there is a whole bunch of business stuff that needs to be taken care of during this time as well. Such as, ordering new supplies, contacting conferences, answering emails, etc.
1:00- I get ready to go to work at Apple (on the days that I work at Apple which is not everyday. If I don’t work at Apple that day then I just have a whole bunch more time to work on the comic or spend with the family). I don’t shower each day until this time. My wife is not too fond of this schedule.
2:00- drive to Apple. It usually takes 40 minutes to get there, unless the tourists decide to slow down and stare at a bus sitting on the side of the road (then it takes longer).
3:00-10:00- work at Apple (I can start anywhere from 3, 4, or 5 o’clock but I usually end my time at 10). This is an awesome side job that I’ve been able to learn a lot from. I started working here as a way to supplement the income and for the benefits, but it is way fun.
10:00- drive home
11:00- fall asleep while watching tv with the wife. I can’t make it through anything anymore. I’m so tired!!!

The best part about this schedule (I’ve been doing it since January) is that I don’t have to stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning anymore to draw the comics. I can get them done during the daytime, which has been incredibly helpful. Also, starting in July my time with Apple with be significantly less so I’ll be able to spend even more time at home working on the comic and, especially, with my family.

But again, I would not be able to do this without you, the devoted reader. Thanks a lot and take care!

Tone Deaf’s newest book, Rhapsody on a Theme of Ha!, is now available for pre-order. Currently, only the Artist’s Edition is available for only $25. With that $25, though, you get the following:

Artist’s Edition Stamp of Authenticity (only 50 artist’s edition books will ever be available).
Autographed unique sketch in each book.
Limited Edition autographed art print.
Matching Bookmark.

Artist’s Editions will ship out on May 1st (the regular editions will not be available for sale until June 1st). Pre-order yours today at the Tone Deaf Store!

As always, every poster at the Tone Deaf Store is Buy 3 Get 1 Free!

A lot of people predicted that the Holst would win from the beginning. Did that make this bracket somewhat boring? Possibly. Did we at least get to see how well newer compositions stacked up against some of the “classics”? Yes, and people still favor the classics (overall) to the newer pieces. There are many reasons why, but why do you think that the newer pieces (such as Asphalt Cocktail, Ecstatic Waters, and others) got voted out? Not as people know the pieces? Not as memorable? I’d like to hear your take on it. I personally don’t think it’s one thing over another, but more of a combination of every reason why it might be.

Anyway, thanks for participating in this year’s brackets. I hope you had fun with it, which was the main goal. Also, I hope you got to experience some pieces for the first time. As I was going through these pieces again I was re-discovering some of them as if it were the first time for me listening to them. I totally forgot how great some of these pieces are. Even though the bracket is over, I would highly encourage you to go back and listen to the pieces you may not know as well. YouTube has most of the pieces on there, but I would greatly recommend purchasing the ones you really like from iTunes. It is very important to support musicians/composers and the great work they do so we can enjoy ourselves just a little bit more each day. The more we support them the more they can continue to write great music for us and your students. Anyways, come back and see if we have another poll next year!