You know how sometimes you IM somebody and their away message says, "Hello, (your use name), I'm not available right now?"

Well this morning I went to popular comics blog Fanboy Rampage, which will periodically change its headline to reflect current events in comics, or just for the hell of it. This morning it said "Justin Aclin's Rampage", and I thought it was one of those IM auto-response thingies, that it had read my name off the computer and put it on the page for me to see.

Oh, no.

The other day, I had mentioned to my new coworker that his now-defunct blog had gotten a tribute on Fanboy Rampage that morning. Apparently, he mentioned that to the guy who runs the site, and they decided to pull a little switcheroo on me. So now it says my name at the top of the site. For everyone who visits. I don't know how long that will last. I feel a little naked.

On the plus side, maybe this will make my name more familiar to industry people. You never know...

EDIT: The title has now been changed. If you missed it, it was "Justin Aclin's Rampage"

Well, while Chicago was a blast (thanks in part to a breakdancing experimental comic painter - and yes, I was there to witness that), it didn't work out quite so well as I'd hoped in terms of my comic. But never fear - I'm a persistent bastard, and I've far from given up.

I'm in the middle of trying to talk someone into taking the book right now. Frankly, I think it's a good package I'm offering. It's a good book (if I do say so myself), and I'm offering them covers by a comics superstar (I'm keeping who on the DL for now until it's a sure thing), plus a best-selling comic author (scroll down to Top 50 Graphic novels, and scope out #4).

Oh well. as I learned from watching Pollack last night, never drive with a drunk Ed Harris, and never discuss Picasso when your family's around, so I'll shut up about all this now. The house process chugs steadily along, and we'll in all likelihood get to buy it, although I won't be convinced until I'm living in it. And if it seems like all I have going on is the comic and the house...isn't the enough? What's with you people? Yeesh!

Dammit, I paid for this wireless access and I'm going to put it to good use! I'm in a hotel room in Chicago, here on a business trip (read: comic convention). It's been a pretty entertaining week, capped off by the fact that the wheels are seriously in motion now to buy my mom's house. Yes, I'm going to be a homeowner! (Pay attention, Beavis) I'm actually psyched. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it's a good idea. Brooke and I will have a place of our own, room to actually spread out our belongings, we won't be throwing untold money away on rent every year. It's shaping up to be pretty sweet. Details as they unfold.

Meanwhile, I've emailed out my comic pitch and breathlessly await a reply. Confirmation one way or another may come as soon as this weekend. Especially considering I'll be in the same room as the guy who I need an answer from. Bear in mind, it's a very large room.

As they say on the 'Net, Developing...

I am currently, all at the same time:

1) In the finishing stages of getting a mortgage to buy a house.

2) Trying to get a handful of people all over the country to coordinate to get my comic pitch done by Wednesday.

3) Trying to think of some good story ideas to pitch to editors at the show, which terrifies me.

4) Closing an issue at work.

Let's see how long I can last like this...