So, I went down to Comic-Con 2010 in San Diego a few weeks back. It was fun, but I only went for one day. There’s at LEAST  three days worth of stuff to do, so when I got there (my first Comic-Con btw), I was overwhelmed by the sheer mass of costumed superheroes and Storm Troopers…and stuff to do. (more…)

I just wanted to let all of my faithful reader know that we here at Earth Tones are making efforts to build a community around here. Now, I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to build one (at least on the Internet), but besides all that stuff I’m dragging my feet on the initiative to do it.

In the spirit of community, I’m going to renew the weekly poll (found right there on the right side —->) every Wednesday. We’re gonna call it “Wanna-Know Wednesdays,” and it’ll be your opportunity to chime in on many of the mind-ramblings that I have throughout the course of the week, as well as get a bit of feedback on YOUR input by way of a blog post specifically dedicated to the retiring poll.

This week’s poll (opened yesterday) was “What Do You Want To See More Of on Earth Tones?” So far, I think the obvious answer would/could/should be “Strips,” but it’d be interesting to know what you would like to read more of in terms of my blog posts. I can pretty much meander through any topic with a decent amount of wherewithal, so…shoot! Don’t forget, you can add a write-in option in this poll, so this is your chance to tell me that you wanna talk about werewolves and vampires—not the monstrous kinds, but the ‘ooh you wanna suck my blood and/or rip out my heart, how romaaaaantic‘ kinds—or anything else that floats your boat. I’m all ears!

…

…

After further contemplation, I suggest that you don’t ask for the cutesy Abercrombie monster blog posts unless you want to get your feelings hurt.

It’s a universally acknowledged truth that relationships, especially friendships, are considered a huge and defining part of our lives. Some people would even say they are a part of our identity, that they are a measure of who we are and who we aspire to be in the future.  But for all the space that friendships supposedly take up in our little interconnected universes, we seem to forget how delicate, flippant, and mercurial they can be.

Personal development and self-help gurus nationwide have been known to profess that we are all the sum average of our 5 closest friends. But if we are all constantly growing, and our lives and interests changing daily, how can we expect to sustain these delicate relationships? Very often the only joining force between you and me, my good friend, is a delicate bracelet of common interests strung together on a length of elastic string.

Over time those interests nestle close together and become a basis for time spent, secrets shared, ideas exchanged, and feelings grown. But in that same amount time the elastic that holds them together begins to age. A little more time and the elastic loosens, weakens, and becomes brittle—just waiting to break.

I know for a fact that many people have lost or “grown apart” from people they would consider their closest friends. Individuals, in whom they have invested time and effort; relationships they thought would never end… and then they did. How is it that we can take such circumstantial information and create incredibly strong bonds?

I don’t know about anyone else, but it makes me feel kinda shallow and a little helpless. If you have to work to fabricate new experiences upon which to sustain a friendship, then is it true? Is it worthwhile?

A convo between myself and SRAustin, hilarity always ensues between us. If you don’t think it’s funny, then you’re wack.

raustin_shelby: hey stranger

[...4.5 hours go by...]

ctinsley2000: hi there

ctinsley2000: late pass

raustin_shelby: hey gyu

raustin_shelby: glad youre up*

ctinsley2000:

ctinsley2000: why’s that?

raustin_shelby: class 2day?

raustin_shelby: cause now u can talk 2 me

ctinsley2000: lol (more…)

My good friend Princess can really sing. You guys should check out her first iTunes single here. While you’re listening, you might as well cop it; it’s ONLY NINETY-NINE CENTS!

“Only 99¢?!”

That’s right, while she may have some humble beginnings upon her, this girl is definitely on her way to stardom. Every time I talk to her she’s making more moves, rubbing more elbows, and getting more people to hop on the bandwagon! It’s only right that I show my girl some love, from artist to artist.

I won’t gush too much, but I’m most certainly proud of her. Keep doing ya thing, home slice!