Kyle, a friend, got me in touch with Chrystal, the owner of cleangeeks.com Over at her site, she features her handmade soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. The cool part is that she makes game controller shaped soaps that come in different soda scents.

After reading my comic, Kyle had asked her if she would be interested in making a line of grape soda scented products in addition to her regular line. She thought it would be a good idea, and sent me a complimentary bottle of grape soda shampoo and a NES controller soap bar! I was very much, “Yay!” to hear this; I honestly had no idea that soda scented soaps existed at all!

AND IT'S IN A CRUSH BOTTLE!!

I’ll prolly keep the controller for novelty’s sake, but I’ve been using the shampoo for a few days now. It smells amazing in the shower, and I smell wonderful out of the shower. I catch whiffs of my grapey hair throughout the day, and it is absolutely lovely. Gives me soda cravings.

Check out her page, even if grape soda’s not your thing. The last time I checked, I saw Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper scented products in addition to grape soda. And I also spotted a Companion cube soap, that could use some serious companionship. It makes scents! Ho ho! I made a funny!

I forget if this was Mrs Martin in Kindergarten or Mrs Hemphill in 1st grade. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be what I wanted to be.

I THOUGHT YOU COULD BE ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO! HAVE YOU BEEN LYING ALL THIS TIME!?? GRAWGGGHHHH

I was an awesome kid. Unfortunately, that usually translates to “troublemaker” when you’re young. Extra unfortunately, that also translated to many parent-teacher conferences.

For your viewing pleasure:

So, if you remember this, Here’s the status on that:

I failed #1. Failed in a couple of months. Greasy Chinese food was the likely culprit.

As for #2, I’m still in the same position over at the university. That being said, I did get a raise, so it makes up for it a bit. (No one else on campus got raises-eek.) Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy my work and I enjoy who I work with. I’m not complaining about that. I just want something that more fulfilling and exciting, before I get the old man syndrome and get tethered to a particular lifestyle. Luckily, I live in the Midwest. Each Winter day reminds me why I want to leave. I figure, I’ve lived about 20 (approaching 21) years in the Midwest. I’m due for a change. I should be able to enjoy a climate controlled area for once. None of this 100% humidity summer, below freezing winter nonsense!

In addition, I had a 3rd resolution that I didn’t mention. I wanted to lose some weight. I had a lot of things on my mind towards the end of 2009, and the stress kept piling on. And boy, the stress hit my metabolism hard. I racked on a considerable amount of weight. In the last few of months of 2009, I gained over 15 pounds, most of which was BEFORE Thanksgiving and Winter Break. Generally I’m a happy person, and apparently (for me,) being happy = burning more calories. I peaked at about 183 pounds, and I felt heavy.

And so, in 2010, after willing myself to be happier and more content, and with the aid of the local gym, I’ve dropped down to 174 pounds. I’ve lost fat, and gained a few pounds of awesomeness. No, I’m not buff. But I won’t be embarrassed at the beach either. (Well, maybe a little bit.)

For 2011, I want to continue that trend. Therefore, here are my resolutions for 2011:

Lose some more weight, gain more sexiness.
Find a better job, somewhere warm!
Read more awesome books.
Draw more comics.

And about them comics… sorry. I’ve been distracted. Blame Bioware! Finished Mass Effect 2 recently. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to the 3rd game. And minecraft. It kindles the designer blood in me. bleh.

2007 AND 2008 Total Comics: 55
2009 Total: 75
2010 Total: 63

Bleh. My rate went down.

AND SO, I’LL SAY IT NOW: I will draw NO LESS than 100 comics this year. Yes, you read right. One Hundred. That is one every 3.65 days.

The game is ON!!!!

I want to smell like Grape soda. ALL THE TIME.

You know the smell. Doesn’t matter if it’s Welch’s, Crush, Jones, Stewarts, or some other schmuck brand. There is a distinct bond between all of them. And it is wonderful.

One of these days, I want to isolate the smells in grape soda to create a line of soaps, shampoos, and colognes. It would be amazing. Until then, I can attempt to find substitutes.

So far, the shampoo that registers closest to said smell is: oddly enough, Head and Shoulders Ocean Lift.

So, I’ve always wanted to have a giant exercise wheel set up in my home. That seemed easy enough to do.

Then I figured, if I was badass enough, I could prolly use the wheel to propel me to the 2nd floor as well. Maybe some weight sensors can detect when I rise higher than the midpoint, and kick in some gears to slow it down to a manageable level where I could roll out without being squished like a tube of toothpaste.

I guess the main problem for this is the size of the thing. A regular exercise wheel where one could walk within doesn’t need to be that much taller than a normal person. Getting to the next floor via wheel, I figure would require at least a 15 foot diameter wheel and perhaps larger.

If I ever get down to the first step, I’ll aim for the second. As soon as I have a multistory building to do as I wish.